REVERSIBLE NUCLEAR GENETIC SYSTEM FOR MALE STERILITY IN TRANSGENIC PLANTS

摘要

Disclosed are methods of making male-sterile or reversibly male-sterile plants. These methods may involve the provision of plants comprising a DNA sequence encoding a gene product inhibiting pollen formation operatively linked to a promoter specific to cells critical to pollen formation. The disclosed methods may likewise involve providing plants comprising a first DNA sequence encoding a gene product inhibiting pollen formation operatively linked to a tissue-specific promoter containing a lexA operator and a second DNA sequence encoding a lexA repressor operatively linked to an inducible promoter; and exposing the plant to an inducer. The disclosed methods may furthermore involve providing plants comprising a DNA sequence encoding a gene product inhibiting pollen formation operatively linked to a tissue-specific promoter containing an operator and a gene encoding a transcriptional activator that can bind to the operator and activate transcription of the DNA sequence; and crossing the male-sterile plants produced with pollen from a male fertile line, wherein the pollen comprises a recombinant DNA molecule encoding a DNA binding protein capable of binding to the operator and causing repression of transcription resulting in reversible male sterility. Moreover, disclosed are recombinant DNA constructs useful for carrying out these methods.