The objective of the present invention is to isolate and identify genes
responsive to plant hormones, such as, brassinolide, and to provide these
genes and their use. The present inventors found two novel genes
(referred to as OsBLE1 gene and OsBLE2 gene) whose expressions are
markedly increased by brassinolide and auxin, using DNA microarray
techniques and Northern blotting. Transformed rice plants were produced
using Agrobacterium EHA101 which comprise antisense polynucleotide
against OsBLE1 and OsBLE2 under the control of the CaMV35S promoter in a
binary vector pIG121-Hm. As a result, the transformed rice plants
exhibited inhibition in stem and leaf growth as compared with controls
which carried the vector alone.