The present invention relates to a method for producing male sterile plants. It involves selective killing of reproductive cells in plants by using an autophagy related gene plant BECLIN I/ATG6. An expression cassette comprising plant BECLIN I/ATG6, regulated by a tapetum specific promoter can induce killing of tapetum cells. A particular area of interest is transforming a plant with said genetic construct and expression of the plant BECLIN I/ATG6 gene in tapetum at early stage of anther development to cause early collapse of tapetum to produce nonviable pollen, thus imparting male sterility in plants.
