Hybridization using cytoplasmic male sterility, cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance, 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 crop which is capable of undergoing 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 cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous dominant 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 cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and lack tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required dominant nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type A 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 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 a Type B 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 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 prior to step (a) steps identical to steps (a) and (b) are repeated at least one time in order to obtain the seed which is grown in said first planting area of step (a).

Claim 9

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 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 10

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 11

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 1 wherein said Type A herbicide operates by inhibiting photosynthesis.

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 Type A herbicide is selected from the group consisting of s-triazines and as-triazines.

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 Type A herbicide is atrazine.

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 Type A herbicide is cyanazine.

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 Type B herbicide is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 16

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

Claim 17

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

Claim 18

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

Claim 19

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

Claim 20

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 first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous dominant 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 cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and lack tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required dominant nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type A 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 a Type B 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 which exhibit tolerance to each of said Type A and Type B herbicide in the substantial absence of seed from said maintainer and restorer plants which initially grew in said second planting area.

Claim 21

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 first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous dominant 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 cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and lack tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required dominant nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type A 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 a Type B 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 which exhibit tolerance to each of said Type A and Type B herbicide in the substantial absence of seed from said maintainer and restorer plants which initially grew in said second planting area.

Claim 22

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 23

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 19 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 24

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 19 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 25

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 19 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica napus.

Claim 26

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 19 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica campestris.

Claim 27

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 19 wherein prior to step (a) steps identical to steps (a) and (b) are repeated at least one time in order to obtain the seed which is grown in said first planting area of step (a).

Claim 28

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 19 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 29

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type A herbicide operates by inhibiting photosynthesis.

Claim 30

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type A herbicide is selected from the group consisting of s-triazines and as-triazines.

Claim 31

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type A herbicide is atrazine.

Claim 32

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type A herbicide is cyanazine.

Claim 33

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type B herbicide is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives and imidazolinones.

Claim 34

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type B herbicide is chlorsulfuron.

Claim 35

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type B herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 36

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type B herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 37

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 19 wherein said Type B herbicide is bentazon.

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 cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which exhibit said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and lack said tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, 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 lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the presence of said required homozygous nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type B 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 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 a Type A 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 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 cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which exhibit said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and lack said tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, 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 lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the presence of said required homozygous nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type B 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 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 a Type A 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 40

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 36 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 41

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 42

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 43

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said crop is Brassica napus.

Claim 44

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said crop is Brassica campestris.

Claim 45

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein prior to step (a) the following process steps additionally are practiced: (i) growing in a preliminary planting area a substantially random population of cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants 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, (ii) harvesting in bulk the seed which is formed on said plants of said preliminary planting area, (iii) growing in the first planting area of step (a) a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (ii) together with the male fertile maintainer plants (2) of step (a), and (iv) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said first planting area of step (a) with a Type A herbicide which is effective to destroy the plants resulting from seed formed on said maintainer plants in step (i) whereby cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and the male fertile maintainer plants (2) of step (a) remain.

Claim 46

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 42 wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated at least one time prior to step (iii) with the product of step (ii) serving as the source of the seed which is planted in step (i).

Claim 47

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 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 48

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 49

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) of step (a) and said restorer plants of step (c) each exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and the resulting F 1 hybrid plants of step (h) exhibit tolerance to each of said Type A and Type B herbicides.

Claim 50

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) of step (a) and said restorer plants of step (c) each exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes, and resulting F 1 hybrid plants of step (h) exhibit tolerance to said Type A herbicide and lack tolerance to said Type B herbicide.

Claim 51

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type A herbicide operates by inhibiting photosynthesis.

Claim 52

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type A herbicide is selected from the group consisting of s-triazines and as-triazines.

Claim 53

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type A herbicide is atrazine.

Claim 54

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type A herbicide is cyanazine.

Claim 55

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type B herbicide is selected from the group consisting of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 56

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type B herbicide is chlorsulfuron.

Claim 57

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type B herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 58

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type B herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 59

An improved process for producing a substantially homogeneous population of plants of a predetermined hybrid variety of crop according to claim 36 wherein said Type B herbicide is bentazon.

Claim 60

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 first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which exhibit said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and lack said tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, 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 lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the presence of said required homozygous nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type B 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 and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said restorer plants, (f) subsequently contacting substantially all of the remaining plants present in said second planting area with a Type A herbicide which is effective to destroy said restorer plants and which is ineffective to destroy said 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 from said maintainer and restorer plants which initially grew in said second planting area.

Claim 61

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 first planting area a substantially random population of (1) cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and (2) male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which exhibit said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and lack said tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the absence of the required nuclear genes for such trait, 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 lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide because of the presence of said required homozygous nuclear genes for such trait, (d) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said second planting area with a Type B 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 and seed is formed on said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and on said restorer plants, (f) subsequently contacting substantially all of the remaining plants present in said second planting area with a Type A herbicide which is effective to destroy said restorer plants and which is ineffective to destroy said 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 from said maintainer and restorer plants which initially grew in said second planting area.

Claim 62

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said crop is selected from the group consisting of grain crops, forage crops, seed-propagated fruits, seed-propagated ornamentals, and industrial species.

Claim 63

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said crop is of the family Brassicaceae.

Claim 64

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said crop is of the genus Brassica.

Claim 65

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said crop is Brassica napus.

Claim 66

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said crop is Brassica campestris.

Claim 67

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein prior to step (a) the following process steps additionally are practiced: (i) growing in a preliminary planting area a substantially random population of cytoplasmic male sterile plants which exhibit cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous nuclear genes, and male fertile plants which are homozygous recessive maintainer plants for said cytoplasmic male sterile plants and which lack said cytoplasmic herbicide tolerance to said at least one Type A herbicide and exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide attributable solely to said homozygous nuclear genes, whereby said cytoplasmic male sterile plants 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, (ii) harvesting in bulk the seed which is formed on said plants of said preliminary planting area, (iii) growing in the first planting area of step (a) a substantially random population of plants derived from seed harvested in step (ii) together with the male fertile maintainer plants (2) of step (a), and (iv) contacting prior to pollination substantially all of the plants present in said first planting area of step (a) with a Type A herbicide which is effective to destroy the plants resulting from seed formed on said maintainer plants in step (i) whereby cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) and the male fertile maintainer plants (2) of step (a) remain.

Claim 68

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 63 wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated at least one time prior to step (iii) with the product of step (ii) serving as the source of the seed which is planted in step (i).

Claim 69

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said pollination takes place with the aid of pollen-carrying insects.

Claim 70

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) of step (a) and said restorer plants of step (c) each exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes, and the seed harvested in step (g) is capable of forming F 1 hybrid plants which exhibit tolerance to said Type A and Type B herbicides.

Claim 71

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said cytoplasmic male sterile plants (1) of step (a) and said restorer plants of step (c) each exhibit tolerance to said at least one Type B herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes, and the seed harvested in step (g) is capable of forming F 1 hybrid plants which exhibit tolerance to said Type A herbicide and a lack of tolerance to said Type B herbicide.

Claim 72

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type A herbicide operates by inhibiting photosynthesis.

Claim 73

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type A herbicide is selected from the group consisting of s-triazines and as-triazines.

Claim 74

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type A herbicide is atrazine.

Claim 75

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type A herbicide is cyanazine.

Claim 76

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type B herbicide is selected from the group consisting essentially of sulfonylureas, glycine derivatives, and imidazolinones.

Claim 77

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type B herbicide is chlorsulfuron.

Claim 78

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type B herbicide is glyphosate.

Claim 79

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type B herbicide is amitrole.

Claim 80

An improved process for producing seed capable of forming a predetermined hybrid variety of a crop according to claim 57 wherein said Type B herbicide is bentazon.

Claim 81

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, cytoplasmic tolerance to at least one herbicide, and tolerance to at least one different herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes.

Claim 82

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, cytoplasmic tolerance to at least one herbicide, and tolerance to at least one different herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous dominant nuclear genes.

Claim 83

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, cytoplasmic tolerance to at least one herbicide, and tolerance to at least one different herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes.

Claim 84

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, cytoplasmic tolerance to at least one herbicide, and tolerance to at least one different herbicide which is attributable solely to homozygous recessive nuclear genes.

Claim 85

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yield male fertile F 1 hybrid rape plants which exhibit cytoplasmic tolerance to at least one herbicide, and tolerance to at least one different herbicide which is attributable solely to nuclear genes.

Claim 86

A Brassica napus seed product consisting of a substantially homogeneous assemblage of seeds which upon growth yield male fertile F 1 hybrid rape plants which exhibit cytoplasmic tolerance to at least one herbicide, and tolerance to at least one different herbicide which is attributable solely to nuclear genes.