The present invention provides methods for obtaining plants that exhibit useful traits by expression of a recombinant DNA methyltransferase in progenitor plants. Methods for identifying genetic loci that provide for useful traits in plants and plants produced with those loci are also provided. In addition, plants that exhibit the useful traits, parts of the plants including seeds, and products of the plants are provided as well as methods of using the plants. Recombinant DNA vectors and transgenic plants comprising those vectors that express a recombinant DNA methyltransferase are also provided.
