Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility and method of using same

Abstract

Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In an embodiment the sequence in the plant is inactivated, and a second sequence linked to an inducible promoter introduced into a plant, such that the plant is constitutively male sterile. Fertility is induced by exposing the plant to an inducing substance.

1 . A method of impacting fertility of a plant comprising inactivating in a plant a first nucleotide sequence, operably linking a second nucleotide sequence to an inducible promoter and introducing said second sequence into the plant such that the plant is constitutively male sterile and fertility is induced by inducing the promoter, wherein the first and second nucleotide sequence comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ. ID NO: 7;   (b) a sequence which hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 7 under conditions of a wash in 0.1 SSC, 1% (w/v) SDS at 65° C., which sequence is critical to male fertility in the plant;   (c) a sequence having at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 7, which sequence is critical to male fertility in the plant; and   (d) a sequence having at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 7, which sequence is critical to male fertility in the plant.   
     
     
         2 . A method of reproducing a plant produced according to the method of  claim 1 , further comprising planting seed of the plant to provide growing male sterile plants; inducing conversion of the growing plants to male fertile form under conditions which induce the promoter to express the second-DNA molecule; and open-pollinating the growing plants in isolation to produce seed; and harvesting the seed. 
     
     
         3 . A controllably male sterile plant produced according to the method of  claim 1 .