The present invention provides an expression cassette comprising at least one polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: a) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOs. 13-24; and b) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence sharing at least 50%, preferably at least 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, especially preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more of sequence identity with a sequence selected in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs. 13-24. This expression cassette can be used in vivo to increase in plants the tolerance to abiotic stress, such as e.g., sulphur deficiency, nitrogen deficiency, or carbon/nitrogen imbalance. In another aspect, the invention thus relates to a transgenic plant cell comprising the expression cassette described above.
