This invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide encoding a BRITTLE
STALK 2 (BK2) polypeptide. The invention also relates to the construction
of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the BK2 polypeptide, in
sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene
results in production of altered levels of the BK2 polypeptide in a
transformed host cell.