The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving various plant growth characteristics by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP (Growth-Related Protein). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP, which plants have improved growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention. The GRP may be one of the following: Seed Yield Regulator (SYR), FG-GAP, CYP90B, CDC27, AT-hook transcription factors, DOF transcription factors and Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitors (CKIs).