Development and use of a two-gene marker-aided selection system for fertility restorer genes in rice

Abstract

We have established marker-aided selection strategies for the two major Rf genes (Rf3 and Rf4) governing fertility restoration of␣cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility (CMS) in rice. Polymorphisms between restorer and non-restorer␣lines were observed using RG140/PvuII for Rf3 located on chromosome 1 and S10019/BstUI for Rf4 located on chromosome 10. DNA polymorphisms associated with these two loci in restorer lines of wild abortive (WA), Dissi, and Gambiaca cytoplasm are conserved, suggesting that similar biological processes control pollen fertility in this diverse cytoplasm. Because of their close linkage to Rf genes and distinct banding patterns, STS markers RG140/PvuII and S10019/BstUI are well suited for marker-aided selection, enhanced backcross procedures, and pyramiding of Rf genes in agronomically superior non-restorer lines. The combined use of markers associated with these two loci improved the efficiency of screening for putative restorer lines from a set of elite lines. Positional analyses of Rf4 and the inheritance pattern of the polymorphism in S10019/BstUI suggest that Rf4, governing fertility restoration in WA-CMS in rice, is likely to be the same gene governing fertility restoration in BT- and HL-CMS that has a gametophytic effect, which explains why 100% pollen fertility in hybrids is impossible to attain.