To investigate the sequences responsible for the regulated expression of tapetal-specific oleosin-like genes, ca. 2 kb of the 5'-upstream regions from two divergent genes, OlnB;4 and OlnB;13, were isolated, sequenced and fused to the reporter gene beta-glucuronidase for study in transgenic Brassica napus plants. Although the proteins encoded by these two genes are highly divergent, except for the conserved oleosin-like domain, the first 250 bp of their 5'-upstream regions was 86% identical, including a region of 150 bp upstream from the TATA box. Analysis of 42 independent transformants by histochemical and fluorometric methods showed that both promoters directed tapetal-specific expression that peaked at the 4 mm flower bud stage.