DNA sequence imparting cytoplasmic male sterility, mitochondrial genome, nuclear genome, mitochondria and plant containing said sequence and process for the preparation of hybrids

A recombinant plant nuclear or mitochondrial genome, which comprises:

• a) a DNA sequence bounded by the nucleotides numbered 928 and 1569 in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:
• 1), or
• b) a DNA sequence encoding a protein translation product identical to that encoded by a)
• wherein said sequence confers cytoplasmic male sterility on a plant when it is present in the mitochondrial genome of said plant, said recombinant genome being devoid of a functional copy of a gene of an Ogura genome, said gene being identified as
• i) a formylmethionine transfer RNA gene used for translation initiation, said formylmethionine transfer RNA gene being characterized by yielding a DNA fragment of 15 kb after NruI digestion or of 5.1 kb after SalI digestion, said DNA fragment revealed by hybridization with a probe corresponding to the sequence bounded by bases 389 and 1199 of the sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:
• 1);
• or
• ii) a Cox1 gene coding for subunit No. 1 of cytochrome oxidase, said Cox1 gene being characterized by yielding a DNA fragment of 10.7 kb after BglI digestion or of 11 kb after NruI digestion, said DNA fragment being revealed by hybridization with a Cox1 probe.