Abstract: Male gametogenesis is one of the key steps in plant sexual reproduction and is essential for the alternation between the diploid sporophytic phase and haploid gametophytic phase in the life cycle of higher plants. In recent years, rapid progress has been made in identifying the genes that play key roles in this process by use of DNA insertion mutagenesis. This article reviews the genetic and molecular mechanisms that control the formation of germline cells and male gametophytes and their interactions with surrounding somatic cells in plant.