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: Promoter sequences and their essential regions are identified which provide for male tissue-preferred expression. 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.

Abstract: Sterile plants can be produced by increasing the endogenous concentration of a biotin-binding protein in the plant tissues, preferably those tissues that are critical to gamete formation or function. This effect can be achieved by producing transgenic plants containing an expression vector in which a promoter is operably linked to a DNA sequence encoding a biotin-binding polypeptide. Preferred biotin-binding proteins have a low susceptibility to degradation, are readily digested, or have a low allergenic potential. Other preferred polypeptides are not highly detrimental to cellular viability, such that low level expression in cells other than those critical for gamete formation or function may be tolerated more easily. This allows the use of promoters having low level expression in non-targeted tissues, thus expanding the repertoire of promoters useful for affecting sterility. Methods for restoring fertility are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of maintaining sterility in plants is disclosed. The method comprises genetic transformation of parental plant lines with a sterility gene that is genetically linked to a resistance gene which confers resistance to a selective agent, increasing the transgenic parental line and coating the seed of the increased transgenic parental line with a composition comprising the selective agent to which the resistance gene confers resistance. The resistance gene can be under the control of an inducible gene, or, alternatively, under the control of constitutive or tissue specific, including seed-specific, promoters.