Method for improving the agronomic value and the nutritional properties of plants

The present invention provides means and methods of transforming plant cells, seeds, tissues or whole plants in order to yield transformants capable of expressing all enzymes of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway that are essential for the targeted host plant to accumulate carotenes and/or xanthophylls of interest. The present invention also provides DNA molecules designed to be suitable for carrying out the method of the invention, and plasmids or vector systems comprising said molecules. Furthermore, the present invention provides transgenic plant cells, seeds, tissues and whole plants that display an improved nutritional quality and contain such DNA molecules and/or that have been generated by use of the methods of the present invention.