Patent ID: 6399856
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: C07K,C12N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for producing reversible male sterility in a plant, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a first plant which is male sterile, said plant having a first genetic construct, said first genetic construct comprising (i) an operator that is capable of controlling expression of a dominant negative gene, (ii) a dominant negative gene that, when expressed in a plant, disrupts pollen formation or function, (iii) a first gene encoding a first DNA binding protein which can bind to the operator and activate transcription of said dominant negative gene, and (iv) a first promoter that drives transcription in cells critical to pollen formation or function, said first promoter regulating the transcription of said first gene encoding said first DNA-binding protein; (b) providing a second plant which is male fertile, said second plant having a second genetic construct comprising a suitable second promoter controlling a second gene encoding a second DNA-binding protein, said second DNA-binding protein interacting with the operator of the first genetic construct, such that the transcription of the dominant negative gene is repressed; and (c) crossing said first plant with said second plant to form a hybrid plant which is male fertile.