Hybridization using cytoplasmic male sterility and herbicide tolerance from nuclear genes

Claim 2

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are capable of pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance because the presence of homozygous recessive nuclear genes for such trait, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said male fertile plants (2) are pollinated with pollen derived from said male fertile plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said male fertile plants, (b) harvesting in bulk said seed which is formed on said plants of said first planting area, (c) growing at least a portion of the seed from step (b) in a second planting area in the absence of segregation between the seed derived from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit said herbicide tolerance attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes and said male fertile plants which lack said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous recessive nuclear genes for such trait, and (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a herbicide which is effective to destroy said plants resulting from seed formed on said male fertile plants of said first planting area, whereby a substantially homogeneous population of a predetermined hybrid variety is formed which resulted from seed formed on said male sterile plants of said first planting area.

Claim 3

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 1 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 4

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 5

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 6

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said crop is Brassica napus.

Claim 7

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said crop is Brassica campestris.

Claim 8

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1).

Claim 9

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 1 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1).

Claim 10

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 1 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said resulting plants of step (d) are male fertile F 1 hybrid plants, and which includes the additional step of: (e) harvesting seed which forms on said male fertile F 1 hybrid plants as a result of self-pollination.

Claim 11

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 1 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said resulting plants of step (d) are cytoplasmic male sterile plants, and which includes the additional steps of: (e) growing in pollinating proximity to the substantially homogeneous population plants of step (d) a substantially homogeneous population of homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants of step (d) are pollinated with pollen from said restorer plants and seed is formed thereon, and (f) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants at the conclusion of step (e) which is capable of forming a predetermined male fertile F 1 hybrid variety in the substantial absence of seed from said population of restorer plants.

Claim 12

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 13

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said herbicide is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 14

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said herbicide is chlorsulfuron.

Claim 15

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 16

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 1 wherein said herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 17

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 1 wherein said herbicide is bentazon.

Claim 18

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are capable of pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) are pollinated with pollen derived from said male fertile plants (2), (b) contacting following said pollination substantially all of the plants present in said planting area with a herbicide which is effective to destroy said male fertile plants and which is ineffective to destroy said cytoplasmic male sterile plants because of said herbicide tolerance attributable solely to said nuclear genes, and (c) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which is capable of forming said hybrid plants in the substantial absence of seed from said male fertile plants which initially grew in said planting area.

Claim 19

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are capable of pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) are pollinated with pollen derived from said male fertile plants (2), (b) contacting following said pollination substantially all of the plants present in said planting area with a herbicide which is effective to destroy said male fertile plants and which is ineffective to destroy said cytoplasmic male sterile plants because of said herbicide tolerance attributable solely to said nuclear genes, and (c) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which is capable of forming said hybrid plants in the substantial absence of seed from said male fertile plants which initially grew in said planting area.

Claim 20

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 21

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 22

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 23

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said crop is Brassica napus.

Claim 24

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said crop is Brassica campestris.

Claim 25

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1).

Claim 26

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1).

Claim 27

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined variety of hybrid crop according to claim 17 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) possess homozygous dominant nuclear genes for said herbicide tolerance, and said male fertile plants (2) possess homozygous recessive nuclear genes for said herbicide tolerance, and the seed harvested in step (c) additionally is capable of forming hybrid plants which exhibit said herbicide tolerance.

Claim 28

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined variety of hybrid crop according to claim 17 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) possess homozygous recessive nuclear genes for said herbicide tolerance, and said male fertile plants (2) possess homozygous dominant nuclear genes for said herbicide tolerance, and the seed harvested in step (c) is capable of forming hybrid plants which lack said herbicide tolerance.

Claim 29

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 17 wherein said male fertile plants (2) are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and wherein said process includes the additional steps of: (d) growing as a substantially uniform population at least a portion of said seed from step (c) which is capable of forming plants which are cytoplasmic male sterile plants in pollinating proximity to a substantially uniform population of plants which are a homozygous dominant fertility restorer for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said restorer plants and seed is formed thereon, and (e) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male plants at the conclusion of step (d) which is capable of forming a predetermined male fertile F 1 hybrid variety in the substantial absence of seed from said population of restorer plants.

Claim 30

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 17 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) of step (a) possess homozygous dominant nuclear genes for said herbicide tolerance, and said male fertile plants (2) of step (a) are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and possess homozygous recessive nuclear genes for said herbicide tolerance, and wherein said process includes the additional steps of: (d) growing in a second planting area as a substantially random population at least a portion of the seed from step (c) which is capable of forming plants which are cytoplasmic male sterile and exhibit herbicide tolerance attributable solely to nuclear genes, and plants which are a homozygous dominant fertility restorer for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous recessive genes for such trait whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said restorer plants, (e) contacting following said pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a herbicide which is effective to destroy said restorer plants because of the lack of said herbicide tolerance and which is ineffective to destroy said cytoplasmic male sterile plants because of the presence of said herbicide tolerance, and (f) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants of said second planting area which is capable of forming said hybrid plants in the substantial absence of seed from said restorer plants which initially grew in said second planting area.

Claim 31

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 17 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 32

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 17 wherein said herbicide is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 33

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 17 wherein said herbicide is chlorsulfuron.

Claim 34

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 17 wherein said herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 35

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 17 wherein said herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 36

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop to claim 17 wherein said herbicide is bentazon.

Claim 37

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to a first at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes and exhibit tolerance to a second at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to different homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait and exhibit tolerance to said second at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said maintainer plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said maintainer plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said maintainer plants, (b) harvesting in bulk said seed which is formed on said plants of said first planting area, (c) growing in a second planting area a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (b) together with homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes and lack tolerance to said second at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with said first herbicide which is effective to destroy said plants resulting from seed formed on said maintainer plants in step (a) whereby cytoplasmic male sterile plants and restorer plants remain, (e) pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and said restorer plants of step (d) with pollen derived from said restorer plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said restorer plants, (f) harvesting in bulk the seed which is formed on said plants remaining in said second planting area, (g) growing in a third planting area a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (f), and (h) contacting substantially all of the plants present in said third planting area with said second herbicide which is effective to destroy said plants resulting from the seed formed on said restorer plants of step (e), whereby a substantially homogeneous population of male fertile F 1 hybrid plants of a predetermined variety is formed.

Claim 38

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to a first at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes and exhibit tolerance to a second at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to different homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait and exhibit tolerance to said second at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said maintainer plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said maintainer plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said maintainer plants, (b) harvesting in bulk said seed which is formed on said plants of said first planting area, (c) growing in a second planting area a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (b) together with homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes and lack tolerance to said second at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with said first herbicide which is effective to destroy said plants resulting from seed formed on said maintainer plants in step (a) whereby cytoplasmic male sterile plants and restorer plants remain, (e) pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and said restorer plants of step (d) with pollen derived from said restorer plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said restorer plants, (f) harvesting in bulk the seed which is formed on said plants remaining in said second planting area, (g) growing in a third planting area a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (f), and (h) contacting substantially all of the plants present in said third planting area with said second herbicide which is effective to destroy said plants resulting from the seed formed on said restorer plants of step (e), whereby a substantially homogeneous population of male fertile F 1 hybrid plants of a predetermined variety is formed.

Claim 39

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 35 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 40

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 41

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 42

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein said crop is Brassica napus.

Claim 43

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein said crop is Brassica campestris.

Claim 44

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 35 whrein prior to step (a) the following process steps additionally are practiced: (i) growing in a preliminary planting area a substantially uniform population of said cytoplasmic male sterile plants in pollinating proximity to a substantially uniform population of different maintainer plants which exhibit tolerance to said first at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes and exhibit tolerance to said second at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to said different homozygous nuclear genes whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said different maintainer plants and seed is formed thereon, and (ii) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which subsequently is grown in said first planting area of step (a).

Claim 45

An improved process for forming a subtantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 35 whrein all of said homozygous nuclear genes for herbicide tolerance are homozygous dominant nuclear genes and said F 1 hybrid plants remaining in step (h) possess herbicide tolerance to said first and said second herbicides.

Claim 46

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous populaton of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 which includes the additional step of (i) harvesting seed which forms on said male fertile F 1 hybrid plants as a result of self-pollination.

Claim 47

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous populaton of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 48

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined variety of a crop according to claim 35 wherein at least one of said first and said second herbicides is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 49

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is chlorosulforon.

Claim 50

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 51

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 52

An improved process for forming a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 35 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is bentazon.

Claim 53

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to a first at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and exhibit tolerance to a second at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to different homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait and exhibit tolerance to said second at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said maintainer plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said maintainer plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said maintainer plants, (b) harvesting in bulk the seed which is formed on said plants of said first planting area, (c) growing in a second planting area a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (b) together with homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes and lack tolerance to said second at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with said first herbicide which is effective to destroy the plants resulting from seed formed on said maintainer plants in step (a) whereby cytoplasmic male sterile plants and restorer plants remain, (e) pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and said restorer plants of step (d) with pollen derived from said restorer plants, (f) subsequently contacting substantially all of the remaining plants present in said second planting area with said second herbicide which is effective to destroy said restorer plants and which is ineffective to destroy cytoplasmic male sterile plants because of said herbicide tolerance attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, and (g) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which is capable of forming F 1 hybrid plants in the substantial absence of seed form said maintainer and restorer plants which initially grew in said seconod planting area.

Claim 54

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop which is capable of undergoing both self-pollination and cross-pollination comprising: (a) growing in a planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit tolerance to a first at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and exhibit tolerance to a second at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to different homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait and exhibit tolerance to said second at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and said maintainer plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said maintainer plants and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said maintainer plants, (b) harvesting in bulk the seed which is formed on said plants of said first planting area, (c) growing in a second planting area a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (b) together with homozygous dominant fertility restorer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit herbicide tolerance to said first at least one herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes and lack tolerance to said second at least one herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with said first herbicide which is effective to destroy the plants resulting from seed formed on said maintainer plants in step (a) whereby cytoplasmic male sterile plants and restorer plants remain, (e) pollinating said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and said restorer plants of step (d) with pollen derived from said restorer plants, (f) subsequently contacting substantially all of the remaining plants present in said second planting area with said second herbicide which is effective to destroy said restorer plants and which is ineffective to destroy cytoplasmic male sterile plants because of said herbicide tolerance attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, and (g) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which is capable of forming F 1 hybrid plants in the substantial absence of seed form said maintainer and restorer plants which initially grew in said seconod planting area.

Claim 55

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 50 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 56

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 57

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 58

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica napus.

Claim 59

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica campestris.

Claim 60

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 50 wherein prior to step (a) the following process steps additionally are practiced: (i) growing in a preliminary planting area a subtantially uniform population of said cytoplasmic male sterile plants in pollinating proximity to a substantially uniform population of different maintainer plants which exhibit tolerance to said first at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes and exhibit tolerance to said second at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to said different homozygous nuclear genes whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants are pollinated with pollen derived from said different maintainer plants and seed is formed thereon, and (ii) harvesting seed from said cytoplasmic male sterile plants which subsequently is grown in said first planting area of step (a).

Claim 61

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 50 wherein all of said homozygous nuclear genes for herbicide tolerance are homozygous dominant nuclear genes and the seed which is harvested in step (g) is capable of forming F 1 hybrid plants which possess herbicide tolerance to said first and said second herbicides.

Claim 62

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 63

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein at least one of said first and said second herbicides is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 64

An improved process for prcducing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein either said first or said secord herbicide is chlorosulfuron.

Claim 65

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 66

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 67

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 50 wherein either said first or said second herbicide is bentazon.

Claim 68

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yield rape plants which exhibit a combination of cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes.

Claim 69

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yield rape plants which exhibit a combination of cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes.

Claim 70

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yield rape plants which exhibit a combination of cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes.

Claim 71

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yield rape plants which exhibit a combination of cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes.

Claim 72

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous recessive maintainer for said cytoplasmic male sterility of said first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous recessive nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 73

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous recessive maintainer for said cytoplasmic male sterility of said first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous recessive nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 74

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous recessive maintainer for said cytoplasmic male sterility of the first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous dominant nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 75

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous recessive maintainer for said cytoplasmic male sterility of the first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous dominant nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 76

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous dominant fertility restorer for said first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous recessive nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 77

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous dominant fertility restorer for said first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous recessive nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 78

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous dominant fertility restorer for said first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous dominant nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 79

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous binary admixture of seeds which upon growth yields: (1) a first rape plant component which exhibits cytoplasmic male sterility and tolerance to at least one herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes, and (2) a second rape plant component which is capable of pollinating said first rape plant component, is a homozygous dominant fertility restorer for said first rape plant component, and which lacks said herbicide tolerance because of the presence of homozygous dominant nuclear genes for such trait.

Claim 80

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yields male fertile F 1 hybrid rape plants which possess tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to nuclear genes.

Claim 81

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yields male fertile F 1 hybrid rape plants which possess tolerance to at least one herbicide attributable solely to nuclear genes.