The present disclosure provides a method for selecting a plant comprising a functional restorer gene for maize S-type cytoplasmic male sterility comprising the steps of (a) screening a population of plants for at least one marker nucleic acid, wherein the marker nucleic acid comprises an allele linked to the functional restorer gene for maize S-type cytoplasmic male sterility; (b) detecting the marker nucleic acid; (c) identifying a plant comprising the marker nucleic acid; and (d) selecting the plant comprising the marker nucleic acid, wherein the plant comprising the marker nucleic acid further comprises the functional restorer gene for maize S-type cytoplasmic male sterility. The present disclosure also provides methods for restoring fertility in a progeny of an S-type cytoplasmic male sterile plant and methods for transferring an Rf3 gene into a progeny plant.

This invention describes a new method of grain production wherein designated male plant pollen may be selected at anytime before pollination of a designated female plant. In the method, a designated female plant having both female and male components is grown. Furthermore, designated male pollen is selected for use in cross-pollinating the designated female plant. Cross-pollination may occur on one more days, is intentional, and occurs at a time when male components are not shedding pollen. The criteria used for selecting designated male pollen may include, but is not limited to, market information and commodity price information. Moreover, the designated male plant pollen may have a different maturity period compared to the designated female, selection may occur after the female has germinated, and/or result in a higher harvested crop value than other available pollen. Accordingly, the process involves the intentional delivery of designated male plant pollen at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. The delivered designated male plant pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially cross-pollinates the designated female plant. The invention also permits real-time agronomic decision making to influence grain content and constituents to maximize grain value.

This invention describes a new method to increase grain yields in any crop plant by modifying pollination to effect an increase in grain yield, a change in grain content or characteristics, a decrease in contamination, or a combination of these attributes. The process involves the intentional delivery of pollen of the male plant at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females. The delivered pollen.sup.M is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and optionally, avoids or enhances self-pollination or pollination from neighboring plants. The intentional delivery of genetically different pollen will result in increased heterosis and accompanying grain yield increases resulting from increased grain size and the potential to influence grain content and constituents. The invention also permits real-time agronomic decision making in order to maximize grain yield by overcoming biotic and abiotic challenges in the growing season which may or may not have been anticipated. The intentional delivery of self- or sib-pollen results in a decrease in contamination from undesirable outcrossing.

A method for maintaining a male sterile plant in a homozygous recessive state includes providing a first plant that includes homozygous recessive male sterility alleles, providing a second plant that includes homozygous recessive male sterility alleles the same as that in the first plant and a nucleotide construct in which the construct exists in a heterozygous state. The first nucleotide sequence of the nucleotide construct encodes a first protein that restores male fertility of the first plant after expression in the first plant. The second nucleotide sequence of the nucleotide construct allows for distinguishing the grains with or without the construct by observation through naked eyes or devices. The first nucleotide sequence and the second nucleotide sequence are tightly connected with each other and coexist in a plant. The method further includes fertilizing female gametes of the first plant with male gametes of the second plant.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying, selecting and/or producing a maize plant or plant part having increased fertility. A maize plant or plant part that has been identified, selected and/or produced by any of the methods of the present invention is also provided.

Methods are described for selecting or producing a cereal plant comprising a functional restorer gene for wheat G-type cytoplasmic male sterility and nucleic acids for use therein.

Methods are described for selecting or producing a cereal plant comprising functional restorer genes for wheat G-type cytoplasmic male sterility and nucleic acids for use therein.

The present invention belongs to the field of biotechnology, in particular to a hybrid breeding method for maize, which comprises sterile line reproduction and hybrid seed production, and more particularly to plant FL1 gene or alleles thereof, as well as mutant plants produced by the variation of the gene.

A method for propagating a sterile male plant line includes: (a) providing a first plant that comprises a homozygous recessive male sterility allele; (b) providing a second plant comprising the homozygous recessive allele and a construct, where the construct exists in a heterozygous state and comprises i) a first nucleotide sequence that will restore the male fertility of the first plant after expression, and ii) a second nucleotide sequence that is able to affect the grain shape or the endosperm nutrient material composition in a heterozygous state, which allows for distinguishing the grains with or without said construct by observation through naked eyes or devices; the first nucleotide sequence and the second nucleotide sequence are tightly connected with each other and coexist in plants; and (c) fertilizing the female gametes of the first plant with the male gametes of the second plant.

Methods are described for selecting or producing a cereal plant comprising a functional restorer gene for wheat G-type cytoplasmic male sterility and nucleic acids for use therein.