Fuente: WIPO "tomato" The present description relates to methods and compositions for identifying and characterizing upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in eukaryotes, including plants, and means for using and/or modifying the uORFs to produce desirable traits. In so doing, means for producing commercially valuable plants and crops as well as the methods for making them and using them are identified. The uORFs identified and characterized with the present methods may be modified for the purpose of producing plants with modified traits. These traits may provide significant value in that they allow the plant to thrive in hostile environments. The traits may also comprise desirable morphological alterations.