PLANTS WITH ALTERED MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION

摘要

The present invention relates generally to a process for the generation of male-sterile plants comprising the selective inhibition of the metabolism, functioning and/or biogenesis of plant mitochondria, by expressing in said plants a genetic construct which targets the expression of nuclear genes encoding polypeptide components of the mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain. When expression of the genetic construct is controlled by a tissue-specific promoter, only the targeted tissue is affected by the disruption of mitochondrial function and other parts of the plant are normal. In particular, the present invention provides a method for the production of male-sterile plants, said method comprising the selective inhibition of mitochondrial function and/or biogenesis using genetic constructs which target the expression of nuclear genes encoding the mitochondrial Rieske iron-sulfur polypeptide or ATP synthase polypeptide in floral organs.