TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preparation: No preparation method is given. Preferred Components: The plant comprises a mutated genomic NST gene or a DNA molecule capable of expressing a nucleic acid sequence complementary to all or a portion of a NST messenger RNA (mRNA). The nucleic acid sequence complementary to all or a portion of a NST mRNA comprises a sequence complementary to all or a portion of a fully defined 960, 1719, 1338, 1793 or 1553 nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1-4 or 5 respectively, as given in the specification. The plant comprises a mutated genomic NST gene, where the mutated genomic NST gene comprises deletion, point mutation or insertion in a wild-type NST gene. In the plant, the DNA molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence complementary to all or a portion of a NST mRNA operably linked to a promoter sequence, which is developmentally-regulated, organelle-specific, inducible, tissue-specific, constitutive, cell-specific, seed specific or germination specific promoter. The plant is as a R0 transgenic plant or a progeny plant of any generation of R0 transgenic plant, where the transgenic plant has inherited the selected DNA from the R0 transgenic plant. The plant further comprises a second DNA sequence that down regulates lignin biosynthesis. The second DNA sequence down regulates a lignin biosynthesis gene, which is 4-coumarate 3-hydroxylase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, caffeic acid O-methyltransferase, caffeoyl coA 3-O-methyltransferase, ferulate 5-hydroxylase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, cinnamoyl CoA-reductase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, monolignol-lignin-specific glycosyltransferase or aldehyde dehydrogenase. The plant part is a protoplast, cell, meristem, root, pistil, anther, flower, seed (preferred), embryo, stalk or petiole. In the nucleic acid molecule: the DNA molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence exhibiting at least 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1-4 or 5 or their complements; the heterologous promoter sequence is developmentally-regulated, organelle-specific, inducible, tissue-specific, constitutive, cell-specific, seed specific or germination-specific promoter; the nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleic acid sequence of (a), (b) or (c), where expression of the nucleic acid molecule in a plant cell increases the lignin content of the plant cell; and the nucleic acid sequence comprises the complement of a nucleic acid sequence of (a), (b) or (c), where expression of the nucleic acid molecule in a plant cell reduces the lignin content of the plant cell. Preferred Method: The mutated genomic NST gene is produced by irradiation, transfer DNA (T-DNA) insertion, transposon insertion or chemical mutagenesis. ACTIVITY - Plant Protectant.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - Gene therapy.    EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.