Haploid Induction Compositions and Methods for Use Therefor

1) A method of creating a new haploid inducer maize plant with a silenced patatin-like phospholipase 2A, comprising transcribing a polynucleotide sequence capable of silencing the patatin-like phospholipase 2A in maize, wherein said polynucleotide sequence comprises a first sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a polynucleotide sequence comprising the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 32 or the complement thereof;
• b) a functional fragment comprising at least 22 contiguous bases of SEQ ID NO:
• 32 or the complement thereof;
• and
• c) a polynucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity as determined using the BLASTN alignment tool to the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 32 or the complement thereof;
• and a second sequence that is the complement of the first sequence, wherein the polynucleotide sequence expresses a double-stranded ribonucleotide sequence which silences the patatin-like phospholipase 2A when contacted with a maize plant and thus creates a new haploid inducer maize plant.