The maize mitochondrial genome of the normal type and the cytoplasmic male sterile type T have very different organization

Abstract

The normal type (N) and cytoplasmic male sterile type T (cmsT) maize mitochondrial genomes are 570 kb and 540 kb in length respectively. Detailed hybridization studies have been undertaken to compare the sequence complexity and variation between the two genomes (genotype B37). They have approximately 500 kb of common sequences but there is considerable variation in sequence organization which can be accounted for by structural alterations from large and small permutations. The sequences not shared between the two genomes totaling 70 kb in N and 40 kb in cmsT can be accounted for by the presence of different repeated sequences, the absence of the integrated form of plasmids S1 and S2 in cmsT, the presence or absence of chloroplast sequences, and a number of sequences that are specific to N or to cmsT.