Genetically engineered cytoplasmic male sterility.
Cytoplasmic male sterility, conditioned by some maternally inherited plant mitochondrial genomes, is the most expedient method to produce uniform populations of pollen-sterile plants on a commercial scale. Plant mitochondrial genomes are not currently amenable to genetic transformation, but genetic manipulation of the plastid genome allows engineering of maternally inherited traits in some species. A recent study has shown that the Acinetobacter beta-ketothiolase gene, expressed in the Nicotiana tabacum plastid, conditions maternally inherited male sterility, laying the groundwork for new approaches to control pollen fertility in crop plants.
Chase
Christine D
CD
Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USA. ctdc@ifas.ufl.edu
D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D059828:Plant Cells; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D018087:Plastids / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology