A method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid up-regulated upon overexpression of a NAC1 or NAC5-encoding gene, referred to herein as a NUG or NAC up-regulated gene, is provided. Plants having modulated expression of a NUG, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants, are also provided. A method for conferring abiotic stress tolerance in plants, comprising modulating expression of a nucleic acid encoding a NAC1 or NAC5 polypeptide in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions, is also provided. Plants expressing a nucleic acid encoding a NAC1 or NAC5 polypeptide, aside from having increased abiotic stress tolerance, have enhanced yield-related traits and/or modified root architecture compared to corresponding wild type plants. Constructs useful in the methods and plants produced by the methods are also provided.
