Abstract: Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In one such method, the homozygous recessive condition of male sterility causing alleles is maintained after crossing with a second plant, where the second plant contains a restoring transgene construct having a nucleotide sequence which reverses the homozygous condition. The restoring sequence is linked with a hemizygous sequence encoding a product inhibiting formation or function of male gametes. The maintainer plant produces only viable male gametes which do not contain the restoring transgene construct. Increase of the maintainer plant is also provided by self-fertilization, and selection for seed or plants which contain the construct.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences and promoter sequences are useful in methods mediating male fertility in plants, as described. Vectors, plant cells, and plants comprising the nucleotide sequences and/or promoter regions are also provided.

Abstract: Auxotrophic Agrobacterium and methods employing auxotrophic Agrobacterium are provided. Auxotrophic Agrobacterium may be used in a variety of methods including biologically containing Agrobacterium comprising a transgene and transforming a plant cell without using an Agrobacterium counter-selective agent. Transforming maize immature embryos using an Agrobacterium auxotrophic for thymidine results in comparable transformation efficiency as transformation achieved using prototrophic Agrobacterium. Methods for producing an Agrobacterium thymidine auxotroph and using the auxotroph in transformation methods are disclosed. Transformed tissues and plants produced using methods of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: Auxotrophic Agrobacterium and methods employing auxotrophic Agrobacterium are provided. Auxotrophic Agrobacterium may be used in a variety of methods including biologically containing Agrobacterium comprising a transgene and transforming a plant cell without using an Agrobacterium counter-selective agent. Transforming maize immature embryos using an Agrobacterium auxotrophic for thymidine results in comparable transformation efficiency as transformation achieved using prototrophic Agrobacterium. Methods for producing an Agrobacterium thymidine auxotroph and using the auxotroph in transformation methods are disclosed. Transformed tissues and plants produced using methods of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for pollen-preferred promoters isolated from a gene unit for SF3. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the pollen-preferred promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: A controllably constitutively female sterile plant is provided. A gene critical to female fertility is identified and the native gene inactivated. The gene is cloned, linked to an inducible promoter and inserted into the plant. The result is a plant that is constitutively female sterile with inducible female fertility.

Abstract: Fertility in a plant is controlled by inactivating a gene critical to fertility, and inserting into the plant the criticial gene linked to an inducible promoter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding the Ms45 male tissue-preferred regulatory region. In one aspect this invention relates the use of this male tissue-preferred regulatory region in mediating fertility. An example of such use is the production of hybrid seed such as in a male sterility system. The Ms45 male tissue-preferred regulatory region can be operably linked with exogenous genes, such as those encoding cytotoxins, complementary nucleotidic units and inhibitory molecules. This invention also relates to plant cells, plant tissue and differentiated plants which contain the regulatory region in this invention.

Abstract: Fertility in a plant is controlled by inactivating a gene critical to fertility, and inserting into the plant the criticial gene linked to an inducible promoter.

Abstract: Fertility in a plant is controlled by inactivating a gene critical to fertility, and inserting into the plant the critical gene linked to an inducible promoter.

Abstract: A 94 base pair DNA regulatory element that confers anther tapetum-specific gene expression has been discovered, isolated, and characterized. Additional tapetum-specific regulatory elements have been developed by mutating the 94 base pair anther box. These tapetum-specific regulatory elements can be used to control the expression of a foreign gene that disrupts the function of tapetal cells. Similarly, the combination of at least one tapetum-specific regulatory element and at least one anther-specific regulatory element can be used to disrupt pollen production in anthers. Thus, the control of maize pollen production can be achieved by using a tapetum-specific regulatory element to produce male-sterile plants. Various methods can be used to restore male fertility in the F1 generation of such male-sterile plants.

Abstract: Fertility in a plant is controlled by inactivating a gene critical to fertility, and inserting into the plant the criticial gene linked to an inducible promoter.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Use of the nucleotide sequences to mediate fertility in plants is also described. In one such method, an inducible promoter is used to regulate expression of the DNA molecule. The control sequences are modified so that it is normally "off" and as a result the plants are male sterile. When it is desired to reproduce the male sterile plants, male fertility is restored by treating the plants with a non-phytotoxic chemical which induces expression of the critical gene.

Abstract: A novel DNA regulatory element that confers anther tapetum-specific gene expression has been discovered, isolated, and characterized. The tapetum-specific regulatory element can be used to control the expression of a foreign gene that disrupts the function of tapetal cells. Thus, the control of maize pollen production can be achieved by using the tapetum-specific regulatory element to produce male-sterile plants. Various methods can be used to restore male fertility in the F1 generation of such male-sterile plants.

Abstract: An inducible promoter is used to regulate expression of a gene which is known to be critical to male fertility. The selected gene's control sequences are modified so that it is normally "off" and as a result the plants are male sterile. When it is desired to reproduce the male sterile plants, male fertility is restored by treating the plants with a non-phytotoxic chemical which induces expression of the critical gene. A critical gene is one which affects flavonol production and in particular compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8, are hydrogen, hydroxyl or alkoxy having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred flavonols include galangin, kaempferol, iso-rhamnetin, quercetin and morin.