Abstract
A new hybrid system based on genetically engineered genes for fertility control has been developed. Male sterility was engineered by targeting expression of chimaeric ribonuclease genes to immature anthers of transgenic plants. Ribonuclease expression destroyed the tapetal cell layer, prevented pollen formation and lead to male sterility. Male sterility was restored in progeny of crosses between male sterile plants and plants expressing a chimaeric tapetum specific ribonuclease inhibitor gene. Fertility restoration is the consequence of the suppression of cytotoxic ribonuclease activity by the formation of RNase/RNase inhibitor complexes. Fertility restored anthers have a normal tapetum, and produce normal amounts of functional pollen. The hybrid system has been successfully introduced in oilseed rape, cauliflower, chicory, lettuce, tomato, cotton and corn.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
De Block M, Bottennan J, Vandewiele M, Dockx J, Thoen C, Gosselé V, Rao Mouva N, Thompson C, Van Montagu M and Leemans J (1987) Engineering herbicide resistance in plants by expression of a detoxifying enzyme. The EMBO Journal 6: 2513–2518
Hartley RW (1988) Barnase and Barstar. Expression of its cloned inhibitor permits expression of a cloned ribonuclease. Journal of Molecular Biology 202: 913–915
Koltunow AM, Truettner J, Cox KH, Wallroth M and Goldberg RG (1990) Different temporal and spatial gene expression patterns occur during anther development. Plant Cell 2: 1201–1224
Mariani C, De Beuckeleer M, Truettner J, Leemans J and Goldberg RG (1990) Induction of male sterility in plants by a chimaeric ribonuclease gene. Nature 347: 737–741
Mariani C, Gosselé V, De Beuckeleer M, De Block M, Godlberg RG, De Greef W and Leemans J (1992) A chimaeric RNase inhibitor gene restores fertility to male sterile plants. Submitted for publication.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Leemans, J. (1992). Genetic Engineering for Fertility Control. In: Dattée, Y., Dumas, C., Gallais, A. (eds) Reproductive Biology and Plant Breeding. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76998-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76998-6_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-77000-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76998-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive