Manipulation of dominant male sterility

Abstract

Compositions and methods for modulating male fertility in a plant are provided. Compositions comprise nucleotide sequences, and fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Further provided are expression cassettes comprising the male fertility polynucleotides, or fragments or variants thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotides modulates the male fertility of a plant. Various methods are provided wherein the level and/or activity of the sequences that influence male fertility is modulated in a plant or plant part. In certain embodiments, the plant is polyploid.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;   (b) a nucleotide sequence comprising a fragment or variant of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sequence initiates transcription in a plant cell;   (c) a polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotide of (a) or (b).   
     
     
         8 . An expression cassette comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 15  operably linked to a heterologous polynucleotide of interest. 
     
     
         9 . A plant comprising the expression cassette of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for expressing a polynucleotide in a plant or a plant cell, said method comprising introducing into the plant or the plant cell an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous polynucleotide of interest, wherein said promoter comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3;   (b) a nucleotide sequence comprising a fragment or variant of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sequence initiates transcription in a plant cell;   (c) a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to (a) or (b).   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide of interest is expressed preferentially in reproductive tissue of a plant. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         14 . A breeding pair of plants, comprising: a first plant and a second plant, wherein the first plant expresses an exogenous dominant male sterility gene so that the first plant is male-sterile, and (b) a second plant, wherein the second plant comprises an expressible exogenous nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide that when expressed suppresses the expression of the dominant male sterility gene or the promoter operably linked to the dominant male sterility gene of the first plant. 
     
     
         15 . The breeding pair of plants of  claim 14 , wherein the dominant male sterility gene impacts anther development, tapetum development, or microspore function. 
     
     
         16 . The breeding pair of plants of  claim 14 , wherein the dominant male sterility gene is selected from the list consisting of streptavidin, DAM, and barnase. 
     
     
         17 . The breeding pair of plants of  claim 14 , wherein the expressible exogenous nucleic acid molecule of the second plant comprises a promoter inverted repeat (pIR) targeting the promoter operably linked to the dominant male sterility gene of the first plant. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         20 . (canceled)