In one aspect, there is provided a mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant cell comprising: (i) a polynucleotide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a sequence encoding a member of the CLC family of chloride channels and having at least 60 pcnt sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:11； (ii) a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide set forth in (i)； (iii) a polypeptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a sequence encoding a member of the CLC family of chloride channels and having at least 60 pcnt sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:14； or (iv) a construct, vector or expression vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide set forth in (i)； and wherein the expression or activity of the polynucleotide or the polypeptide is modulated as compared to a control plant and wherein the nitrate levels in the mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant containing the mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant cell are modulated as compared to the control plant containing the control plant cell.
