Plant Genetic Systems N.v.

Aventis Cropscience, N.v.

Bayer Bioscience N.v.

Willy De Greef

Jan Jozef Leemans

Celestina Mariani

Marc De Beuckeleer

Marc Charles Van Montagu

Maria-Helena De Souza

John Van Emmelo

Dulce Eleonora De Oliveira

A plant, the nuclear genome of which is transformed with a foreign DNA sequence encoding a product which selectively disrupts the metabolism, functioning and/or development of stamen cells of the plant. The foreign DNA sequence also optionally encodes a marker.

Plants with modified stamen cells

A plant, the nuclear genome of which is transformed with a foreign DNA sequence encoding a protein or polypeptide which disrupts the metabolism, functioning and/or development of stamen cells of the plant, said foreign DNA under the control of a stamen-specific promoter. The foreign DNA sequence also optionally encodes a marker.

A plant, the nuclear genome of which is transformed with a foreign DNA sequence encoding a product which neutralizes the activity of another product which disrupts the metabolism, functioning and/or development selectively of the plant's flower cells, particularly reproductive organ cells, or seed cells or embryo cells. The foreign DNA sequence also optionally encodes a marker.

Plants with modified flowers

A plant, the nuclear genome of which is transformed with a foreign DNA sequence encoding a product which selectively disrupts the metabolism, functioning and/or development of cells of the flowers, particularly one or more of their female organs, or the seeds or the embryos of the plant. The foreign DNA sequence also optionally encodes a marker.

Plants with modified flowers seeds or embryos

A plant, the nuclear genome of which is transformed with a first foreign DNA sequence. The first foreign DNA sequence comprises a fertility-restorer DNA which encodes a first RNA, a protein or polypeptide that can inactivate a second RNA, protein or polypeptide in cells of the plant. The second RNA, protein or polypeptide is encoded by a sterility DNA in a second foreign DNA sequence in the plant's nuclear genome. Expression of the sterility DNA, in the absence of expression of the fertility-restorer DNA, would disturb significantly the metabolism, functioning and/or development of cells of the plant's flowers, particularly, the plant's reproductive organs, or cells of the plant's seeds or embryos in which the sterility DNA is selectively expressed, thereby rendering the plant male- or female-sterile. The first and second foreign DNA sequences also can encode suitable markers.

Plants modified with barstar for fertility restoration

Promoters from endogenous genes of plants are isolated, wherein said promoters direct gene expression selectively in stamen cells of said plant, particularly in tapetum cells of said plant. The promoters may be used to transform a plant with a foreign DNA sequence encoding a product which selectively disrupts the metabolism, functioning, and/or development of stamen cells of the plant.

Stamen-selective promoters

The invention concerns female-sterile plants that comprise a foreign DNA incorporated in the nuclear genome of their cells. This foreign DNA first comprises a female-sterility DNA encoding a protein or polypeptide such as barnase which, when produced in the cells of the plant, kills or significantly disturbs the metabolism, functioning or development of the cells. The foreign DNA also comprises a first promoter which directs expression of the female-sterility DNA selectively in style cells, stigma cells or style-and stigma cells of the female reproductive organs of the plants. The first promoter does not direct detectable expression of the female sterility DNA in the ovule or in other parts of the plant so that the plant remains male-fertile. The female-sterility DNA is in the same transcriptional unit as and under the control of the first promoter.

Growing community of inventors

Ghent, Belgium

Willy De Greef