Compositions and methods are provided for the use of pollen-inhibitor genes and/or color marker genes in accelerated trait introgression. Compositions and methods are also provided for introducing a pollen-inhibitor gene and/or a color marker gene in close proximity to a trait locus of interest. Breeding methods and methods for selecting plants comprising a trait locus of interest in close proximity to at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/or color marker gene are also disclosed. The methods and compositions employ at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/or color marker gene to provide an effective system for accelerated trait introgression in the genome of a plant.