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: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and DNA sequences capable of acting in a fashion to inhibit pollen formation or function, thus rendering the transformed plant reversibly male-sterile. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of dominant negative genes and an anther-specific promoter. Male sterility is reversed by incorporation into a plant of a second genetic construct which represses the dominant negative gene. The invention also relates to novel DNA sequences which exhibit the ability to serve as anther-specific promoters in 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: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and DNA sequences capable of acting in a fashion to inhibit pollen formation or function, thus rendering the transformed plant reversibly male-sterile. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of dominant negative genes and an anther-specific promoter. Male sterility is reversed by incorporation into a plant of a second genetic construct which represses the dominant negative gene. The invention also relates to novel DNA sequences which exhibit the ability to serve as anther-specific promoters in plants.

Abstract: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and DNA sequences capable of acting in a fashion to inhibit pollen formation or function, thus rendering the transformed plant reversibly male-sterile. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of dominant negative genes and an anther-specific promoter. Male sterility is reversed by incorporation into a plant of a second genetic construct which represses the dominant negative gene. The invention also relates to novel DNA sequences which exhibit the ability to serve as anther-specific promoters in plants.

Abstract: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and DNA sequences capable of acting in a fashion to inhibit pollen formation or function, thus rendering the transformed plant reversibly male-sterile. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of dominant negative genes and an anther-specific promoter. Male sterility is reversed by incorporation into a plant of a second genetic construct which represses the dominant negative gene. The invention also relates to novel DNA sequences which exhibit the ability to serve as anther-specific promoters in plants.

Abstract: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to produce a reversible effect on a plant phenotype. A 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 tissue specific promoter that regulates the expression of a gene encoding a DNA-binding protein which binds to the operator and activates transcription, and (iv) a gene encoding a DNA binding region and an activating domain, causes male sterility in a plant. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of a DAM-methylase gene as a dominant negative gene and an anther-specific promoter. Male sterility is reversed by incorporation into a plant of a second genetic construct which represses the dominant negative gene.

Abstract: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and DNA sequences capable of acting in a fashion to inhibit pollen formation or function, thus rendering the transformed plant male-sterile. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of an anther-specific promoter, designated 5126, and its operable linkage to a dominant negative gene, more particularly an exogenous methylase gene or DAM methylase gene, to achieve male sterility.

Abstract: Plant development can be altered by transforming a plant with a genetic construct that includes regulatory elements and DNA sequences capable of acting in a fashion to inhibit pollen formation or function, thus rendering the transformed plant male-sterile. In particular, the present invention relates to an isolated DNA molecule comprising an anther-specific promoter, designated 5126, its operable linkage to a DNA sequence encoding a gene product and transgenic plants comprising said DNA. More particularly the gene product linked to promoter 5126 disrupts the function or formation of pollen.

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: 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.