Novel b-type gene from oil palm

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to genetic sequences and their complementary forms capable of facilitating the modification of a phenotype of a plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to polynucleotide sequences defining B-type genes, to the proteins encoded thereby, to methods for isolating such polynucleotides and to nucleic acid constructs for the expression thereof. The present invention further provides cells, particularly transformed bacterial or plant cells and to differentiated tissue including whole plants and their progeny comprising cells which contain these nucleic acid constructs or parts of the constructs. Plants and parts of plants, such as flowering and reproductive parts including seeds, also form part of the present invention. The genetic sequences of the present invention may be used inter alia for the production of plants and, in particular, oil palm plants, which have modified phenotypes and/or which exhibits more highly desired characteristics such as, for example, male sterility or plants in which the sex ratio may be manipulated, and for the diagnosis and, preferably, elimination of the mantled phenotype.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 14 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complement thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , comprising a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to said RNA equivalent of SEQ ID NO: 1 or complement thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is RNA. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , comprising all of said nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2.