Recombinant DNA molecules and constructs are provided that are useful for modulating gene expression in plants. One or more expression cassette(s) of a recombinant DNA molecule or construct may be excised from transgenic plants following transformation by the presence of flanking site-specific recombination sites in the recombinant DNA molecule or construct by expression of a recombinase enzyme encoded by the recombinant DNA molecule or construct. Such a recombinase system may be used to remove such expression cassette(s) from plants transformed with the recombinant DNA construct or vector. The recombinase transgene may be operably linked to a tissue-preferred or tissue-specific promoter for autoexcision in transformed plants without crossing to a different transgenic line expressing the recombinase. Methods for causing autoexcision of one or more expression cassette(s) in a transgenic plant, and plants and cells containing or transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule or construct of the present disclosure, are also provided.