Compositions and methods for modulating plant development and for increasing yield in a plant are provided. The compositions include a ZM-LOBDP1 sequence. Compositions of the disclosure comprise amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2 as well as variants and fragments thereof. Nucleotide sequences encoding the ZM-LOBDP1 molecule are provided in DNA constructs for expression in a plant of interest are provided for modulating the level of a ZM-LOBDP1 sequence in a plant or a plant part are provided. The methods comprise introducing into a plant or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide comprising a ZM-LOBDP1 sequence of the disclosure. The level of the ZM-LOBDP1 polypeptide can be increased or decreased. Such method can be used to increase the yield in plants in one embodiment, the method is used to increase grain yield in cereals.
