Source Of Male Sterility Research Articles

Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms Revealed by RAPD Assays Distinguish the Male-sterile and Male-fertile Cytoplasms in Pearl Millet

Diversification of cytoplamic male sterile (CMS) sources is of considerable significance in pearl millet, considering that almost all the commercially cultivated hybrids, particularly in India, are based on a single CMS source, A1. We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms among five pearl millet CMS sources (A1 to A5) and a male-fertile maintainer (B) line, all in an isonuclear background. Analysis using 21 random primers led to identification of polymorphic bands specific to the A1, A2, A3 and A5 CMS lines. Two RAPD primers, OP-G12 and OP-G19, in combination were able to distinguish all the male-sterile and male-fertile cytoplasms. Highly effective for this purpose also were four RAPD markers, OP-B7, OP-D8, OP-F10 and OP-G12. Cluster analysis, followed by bootstrap analysis, of the mtDNA dataset revealed two distinct clusters: cluster-I comprising the A1, A2, A3 CMS lines and the male-fertile line, and cluster-II comprising the A4 and A5 CMS lines.

Somatic cybridization between Nicotiana tabacum and N. repanda based on a single inactivation procedure of nuclear donor parental protoplasts

Somatic cybridization between Nicotiana tabacum and N. repanda based on a single inactivation procedure of nuclear donor parental protoplasts

Cybrids and tetrad sterility for developing true potato seed hybrids

SummaryPotato cybrids result from the fusion between cytoplasm and nuclear gene donors. Such genetic materials are an alternative means to broaden the breeding pool by non‐sexual gene transfer. Tetrad pollen sterility provides also another source of male sterility with some potential for true potato seed breeding. The objective of this research was to investigate cybrid‐derived offspring for both agronomic and reproductive characteristics in two contrasting Peruvian locations, and to examine new exotic germplasm for tetrad sterility, with the aim of broadening the breeding pool available at the Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP). The cybrids were derived from fusions between Y‐245.7, a clone with tetrad sterility, and Atzimba. These cybrids were crossed with selected male parents from the CIP breeding population, and their hybrid offspring were tested in La Molina (coastal desert) and Huancayo (cool highlands). In addition, other clones with tetrad sterility were also crossed with selected testers to determine their breeding value. There were significant differences for tuber yield, style length, and berry number among the hybrid offspring, and the genotype by environment interaction was significant for tuber yield and berry number. The top 25% highest yielding cybrid‐derived offspring across both locations showed the same tuber yield although they were significantly different for some of the reproductive characteristics. With the exception of one cybrid, the others did not exhibit segregation for tetrad sterility in their hybrid offspring, which were male fertile. However, the offspring derived from crosses between other sources of tetrad sterility and the same testers all showed tetrad sterility, and some of them had outstanding tuber yield at La Molina. The lack of segregation for tetrad sterility in these new crosses suggests that the non‐cybrid, male sterile, female parents are triplex or quadriplex for the Tr nuclear locus, which interacts with a sensitive cytoplasm (e.g. Trs from S. verrucosum or S. stoloniferum) to produce tetrad sterility in potato.

Characterization for agronomic use of cytoplasmic male‐sterility in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) introduced from H. resinosus Small

Abstract A backcrossing programme was carried out both to assess the stability of a cytoplasmic male‐sterility (CMS) source from Helianthus resinosus, designated RES1, and to incorporate it into inbred sunflower lines (HA89, RHA271, RHA801). All the progenies, grown in different environments, were completely male‐sterile. This suggests that the expression of this cytoplasm is stable. Female‐fertility of lines HA89, RHA271 and RHA801 carrying CMS RES1 were compared with those of the corresponding fertile inbred lines. There were no differences in the number of seeds per head. This indicates that female‐fertility is not affected by RES1 cytoplasm. Cytological studies showed that meiosis proceeds normally until the tetrad stage; consequently, the absence of pollen is caused by alterations that take place during postmeiotic stages. With the aim of identifying male‐fertility restorer genotypes, crosses were made between HA89 (CMS RES1) plants and different annual diploid and perennial hexaploid Helianthus species. All the diploid germplasm evaluated behaved as a CMS RES1 maintainer. However, the hexaploid species, H. resinosus, H. x laetiflorus, H. pauciflorus and H. tuberosus, restored pollen fertility in CMS RES1 plants.

Alloplasmic male-sterile Brassica juncea with Enarthrocarpus lyratus cytoplasm and the introgression of gene(s) for fertility restoration from cytoplasm donor species.

A new cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) source in Brassica juncea (2n = 36; AABB) was developed by substituting its nucleus into the cytoplasm of Enarthrocarpus lyratus (2n = 20; E(l)E(l)). Male sterility was complete, stable and manifested in either petaloid- or rudimentary-anthers which were devoid of fertile pollen grains. Male sterile plants resembled the euplasmic B. juncea except for slight leaf yellowing and delayed maturity. Leaf yellowing was due mainly to higher level of carotenoids rather than a reduction in chlorophyll pigments. Female fertility in male-sterile plants varied; it was normal in lines having rudimentary anthers but poor in those with petaloid anthers. Each of the 62 evaluated germplasm lines of B. juncea was a functional maintainer of male sterility. The gene(s) for male-fertility restoration ( Rf) were introgressed from the cytoplasm donor species through homoeologous pairing between A and E(l) chromosomes in monosomic addition plants (2n = 18II+1E(l)). The percent pollen fertility of restored F(1) ( lyr CMS x putative restorer) plants ranged from 60 to 80%. This, however, was sufficient to ensure complete seed set upon by bag selfing. The CMS ( lyr) B. juncea compared favourably with the existing CMS systems for various productivity related characteristics. However, the reduced transmission frequency of the Rf gene(s) through pollen grains, which was evident from the sporadic occurrence of male-sterile plants in restored F(1) hybrids, remains a limitation.

Impact of cytoplasmic male sterile sources on seed yield and yield components in sunflower

In order to study the influence of different alloplasmic male sterile lines on quantitative characters, three alloplasmic male sterile lines of the inbred line 852 were developed. The three different CMS sources used are CMS 852A (H.petiolaris), FMS 852A (H.petiolaris ssp. petiolaris) and IMS 852A (H.annuus ssp. lenticularis). These three lines were crossed to three restorers Acc. Nos. 1229, 232 and TUB 365 producing 9 hybrids (3 hybrids in three different sources). Similarly inbred line IB24A in two backgrounds FMS IB24A and IMS IB24A were crossed to four restorer lines 1229, 232, Tub 365 and 346 producing another set of 8 hybrids. These 17 hybrids along with their parents were evaluated during rainy season in the field by following randomized complete block design with three replications. Observations were recorded on seven quantitative characters. The different CMS sources did not significantly influence the traits such as plant height, days to maturity head diameter, percent seed set, test weight and seed yield per plant. Thus alloplasmic hybrids were uniform suggesting that the new CMS sources can be commercially exploited like classical source with out any negative effect. However, in case of seed oil content the CMS source from lenticularis showed superiority over the classical cytoplasm by producing hybrids with significantly higher oil content. Therefore, these new male sterility sources can replace the classical source with added advantage.

Wild Nicotiana Species as a Source of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Nicotianatabacum

Abstract The results of our experiments executed to obtain tobacco male sterile lines through interspecific hybridization are summarized. Ten wild species from the genus Nicotiana: N. excelsior (exc), N. amplexicaulis (amp), N. rustica (rus), Nicotianaglauca (gla), N. velutina (vel), N. benthamiana (ben), N. maritima (mar), N. paniculata (pan), N. longiflora (lon) and N. africana (afr) were used as cytoplasmic donors and N. tabacum, cv. HarmanliiskaBasma (HB) as a donor of the nucleus. Genetic effects of cytoplasmic-nuclear interaction of the studied species are discussed. Our results suggested that cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was expressed when the cytoplasms of the above mentioned wild Nicotiana species were combined with the nucleus of N. tabacum. The 10 sources of CMS obtained in tobacco were characterized by altered flower phenotypes. Flowers are classified into types according the stamen, pistil and corolla modification. All these CMS sources were backcrossed to Oriental tobaccos, cvs. Tekne, Nevrokop B-12, Kroumovgrad 90 and Djebel 576, to develop corresponding CMS lines. The investigated cytoplasms produced compete male sterility in all those cultivars. The CMS lines preserved flower types, specific for every “sterile” cytoplasm. The extent of male organ modifications varied from apparently normal (but pollenless) stamens in CMS (pan), (afr), some plants of (vel) (mar) through different degrees of malformations (shriveled anther on shortened filaments (lon), pinnate-like anthers on filaments of normal length (amp), petal - (ben), pistil- or stigma-like structures (rus), (gla)) to lack of male reproductive organs in (exc) and in some plants of (vel), (mar), (rus) and (gla). Most of the above mentioned cytoplasms had normal female gametophyte and good seed productivity. Alterations of the pistils were observed in CMS (rus), (exc) and (ben) causing reduction of the seed set. Electrophoresis of seed proteins of the tobacco cultivars and their CMS lines also suggested that the nuclei of wild species was entirely displaced by the nucleus of N. tabacum. CMS lines with cytoplasms of N. velutina, N. maritima, N. paniculata, N. longiflora and N. amplexicaulis were selected as suitable for seed production in tobacco.

Inheritance of Fertility Restoration for Two Cytoplasmic Male Sterility Sources of Helianthus pauciflorus (rigidus) Nutt.

ABSTRACTNew sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (cms) and fertility restoration genes would reduce the genetic vulnerability of commercial sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids because of the current use of a single male sterile H. petiolaris Nutt. cytoplasm and a few fertility restoration genes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the inheritance of fertility restoration, to compare the cytoplasmic similarity between the two cms sources, and to confirm the vigor reducing effect of combining perennial species cytoplasms with cultivated nuclei. Cms‐RMX plants, maintained by backcrossing with inbred line HA89, were crossed with 21 prospective restoration lines. Male‐fertile F1 progeny were observed in crosses with ‘Luch’ and ‘RCMG1’. Segregation of male sterility in F2 and testcrosses with HA89 indicated fertility restoration was controlled by two complementary dominant genes. Identical segregation ratios of male fertile to male sterile in both F2 and testcross F1 were obtained with cms‐RIG1 using the fertility restoration genes identified for cms‐RIGX. These results suggest a single origin of the two cms sources. In a field test, cms‐RIGX plants produced no seeds after self‐pollination, and 99% seed set from open‐pollination, indicating complete male sterility and female fertility. The new cms‐RIG sources and corresponding fertility restoration genes will provide cytoplasmic diversity for sunflower hybrid production.

Molecular mapping of the Rf1 gene restoring pollen fertility in PET1-based F1 hybrids in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Up to now a single cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) source, PET1, is used worldwide for hybrid breeding in sunflower. Introgression of the restorer gene Rf1, responsible for fertility restoration, into new breeding material requires tightly linked markers to perform an efficient marker-assisted selection. A survey of 520 decamer primers by bulked segregant analyses identified five RAPD markers linked to the restorer gene Rf1. In a F(2) population of 183 individuals one of the RAPD markers, OPK13_454, mapped 0.8 cM from Rf1, followed by OPY10_740 with 2 cM. Bulked segregant analyses using 48 AFLP primer combinations identified 17 polymorphisms, which could be mapped in the same linkage group as Rf1. E33M61_136, and E41M48_113 were mapped 0.3 cM and 1.6 cM from the gene, respectively. Conversion of E41M48_113 into a sequence-specific marker resulted in a monomorphic pattern. However, two of the RAPD markers, OPK13_454 and OPY10_740, were successfully converted into SCAR markers, HRG01 and HRG02, which are now available for marker-assisted selection. To investigate the utility of these SCAR markers in other cross-combinations they were tested in a set of 20 lines. Comparison of the patterns of 11 restorer and nine maintainer lines of PET1 demonstrated that the markers OPK13_454/HRG01 and HRG02 were absent in all maintainer lines but present in all restorer lines, apart from the high oleic line RHA348 and the dwarf line Gio55. In addition, restorer lines developed from the interspecific hybrids Helianthus annuus x Helianthus mollis and H. annuus x Helianthus rigidus gave the same characteristic amplification products.

Molecular diversity of male sterility inducing and male-fertile cytoplasms in the genus Helianthus.

The organisation of mtDNA was investigated for 28 sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and a fertile line (normal cytoplasm) of Helianthus annuus by Southern hybridisation. In addition to nine known mitochondrial genes ( atp6, atp9, cob, coxI, coxII, coxIII, 18S, 5S and nd5) three probes for the open reading frames in the rearranged area of PET1, orfH522, orfH708 and orfH873, were used. Genetic similarities of the investigat-ed cytoplasms varied between 0.3 and 1. Cluster analyses using the UPGMA method allowed the distinction of ten mitochondrial (mt) types between the 29 investigated cytoplasms. Most mitochondrial types comprise two or more CMS sources, which could not be further separated, like the PET1-like CMS sources (with the exception of ANO1 and PRR1), or ANN1/ANN2/ANN3, ANN4/ ANN5, ARG3/RIG1, BOL1/EXI1/PEF1/PEP1 and GIG1/ PET2. ANL1, ANL2 and the fertile cytoplasms are also regarded as one mitochondrial type. Unique banding patterns were only observed for ANT1 ( atp6), MAX1 ( atp6, orfH522 and orfH708) and PRR1 ( coxII). However, four of the mitochondrial types showed unique hybridisation signals: ANN4/ANN5 had characteristic bands for atp6 and orfH708, PEF1/PEP1/EXI1/BOL1 for atp6and coxII, and PET2/GIG1 for atp9. The PET1-like cytoplasms all shared the same patterns for orfH522, orfH708and cob (except ANO1). It could be demonstrated that CMS sources, like, e.g., PET2 and PEF1, are different from PET1 in mtDNA organisation and the CMS mechanism. Therefore, these CMS sources represent interesting candidates for the development of new hybrid breeding systems based on new CMS mechanisms.

Evaluation of sorghum germplasm used in US breeding programmes for sources of sugary disease resistance*

Ergot or sugary disease of sorghum has become an important constraint in North and South American countries that rely on F1 hybrid seeds for high productivity. The objective of this research was to determine the vulnerability of various germplasm sources and publicly bred sorghum lines to sugary disease (Claviceps africana) in the United States. Flower characteristics associated with sugary disease resistance were also studied. A-/B-line pairs, R-lines, putative sources of resistance and their hybrid combinations with an A3 cytoplasmic male-sterile source were evaluated using a disease incidence, severity, and dual-ranking system. Trials were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications and repeated in at least two planting dates. Planting dates and pedigrees had significant effects on overall ranking for resistance. A-lines were most susceptible to sugary disease. R-lines were more susceptible than B-lines with respect to incidence and severity of the disease. Newer releases of A- and B-lines were more susceptible to sugary disease than older releases. Sugary disease reaction of A-lines was a good indicator of disease reaction of B-lines. Tx2737, a popular R-line, was highly susceptible to sugary disease in spite of being a good pollen shedder because the stigma emerged from glumes 2±3 days before anthesis. The combination of flower characteristics associated with resistance were least exposure time of stigma to inoculum before pollination, rapid stigma drying after pollination, and small stigma. An Ethiopian male-fertile germplasm accession, IS 8525, had good levels of resistance. Its A3 male-sterile hybrid had the highest level of resistance in the male-sterile background. IS 8525 should be exploited in host-plant resistance strategies.

Genetics of a new male-sterility locus in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.).

A natural male-sterile mutant was found in the population of a short-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan[L.] Millsp.) cultivar ICPL 85010. This mutant is characterized by light yellow anthers of reduced size that are devoid of pollen grains. This mutant was crossed with two pigeonpea cultivars to study its inheritance. The F1, F2, and test cross data of the two crosses suggested that this male sterility trait is genetic in origin and is controlled by a single recessivegene. The F1 (mutant x ICPL 85010) plants were crossed with translucent (ms1) and arrowhead type (ms2) genetic male steriles reported earlier to study their allelic relationships. Segregation in the three-way cross F1 and F2 populations revealed that the mutant male-sterile gene was nonallelic to ms1 and ms2 loci and it is designated ms3. The new male sterility sources in pigeonpea will help in producing high-yielding hybrids and populations in diverse phenological groups.

HETEROSIS IN TOP-CROSS HYBRIDS OF DIVERSE CYTOSTERILE SOURCES OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) / HETEROSIS EN LOS HIBRIDOS TOP-CROSS DEL GIRASOL CREADOS DE DIVERSAS FUENTES CITOESTERILES / HÉTEROSIS DANS LES HYBRIDES TOP-CROSS DE TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.) OBTENUS DE DIVERSES SOURCES CYTOSTÉRILES

SUMMARY Standard heterosis was estimated for eight quantitative traits in top-cross hybrids of three diverse cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) sources of sunflower viz., Helianthus petiolaris (CMS-PET1), Helianthus petiolaris ssp. fallax (CMS-PEF1) and Helianthus annuus ssp. lenticularis (CMS-ANL2) maintained under different nuclear backgrounds. The top-cross hybrids were derived by crossing the above three CMS sources with 12 male parents in a line x tester design. Significant heterosis over two standard checks in the desirable direction was observed for all traits. All three sources under study advanced the maturity in most of the hybrids. CMS-PET1 was found to be the best compared with the other sources as far as oil content was concerned. Mean performance of the hybrids for achene yield and other economically important characteristics indicated that the hybrids derived in the cytoplasmic background of CMSANL2 were the best followed by CMS-PET1 and CMS-PEF1 suggesting that CMS diversification in heterosis breeding programs would be rewarding in sunflower.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE USE OF ISSR, MICROSATELLITES AND RAPD MARKERS FOR VARIETAL IDENTIFICATION OF CARROT GENOTYPES

ISHS International Symposium on Molecular Markers for Characterizing Genotypes and Identifying Cultivars in Horticulture A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE USE OF ISSR, MICROSATELLITES AND RAPD MARKERS FOR VARIETAL IDENTIFICATION OF CARROT GENOTYPES

A new tobacco cytoplasmic male sterile source from the hybrid combination Nicotiana longiflora Gav. and N. tabacum L. using in vitro techniques

A new source of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in tobacco that originated from an interspecific cross is reported. Hybrids of sexually incongruent species Nicotianalongiflora Gav. (n = 10) and N. tabacum L. (n = 24) were fully male and female sterile. The female sterility was overcome by inducing callus and organ formation from in vitro cultured stem pit parenchyma. The regenerants obtained after longer cultivation (six passages) had a chromosome number 2n = 44–93 and restored female fertility. They were successfully pollinated with N. tabacum, forming seed-containing capsules. All BC1P2 plants were male sterile. They possessed normally developed corolla with shortened flower tube, strongly expressed longistily, filiform stamens with shortened filaments, and deformed anthers with 100% sterile pollen. This kind of male sterility was preserved in BC2P2–BC6P2 progenies. Genetic analysis indicated maternal inheritance of the flower type, which confirmed its nuclearcytoplasmic nature due to interaction betwe...

Morphological characterization of modified flower morphology of three novel alloplasmic male sterile carrot sources

Abstract Three novel sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in carrot are characterized by altered flower phenotypes. Flowers were classified into subtypes, according to stamen (and petal) modification. Flower anatomy was investigated by light microscopy to describe organ modification and to specify the timing when morphology begins to deviate. Early stages of floral development were defined in fertile male flowers of the cultivated carrot according to model plants such as Antirrhinum and Arabidopsis and compared with corresponding stages of the novel cytoplasmic male‐sterile flower types. Early organogenesis was identical in the different CMS types and comparable to corresponding stages of unmodified flowers. The morphology of stamens, and in some cases petals, became different in CMS flowers during early organ differentiation. For each CMS type, the cytoplasm appears to influence organogenesis in a specific way. Although homoeosis is usually considered to be controlled exclusively by specific nuclear genes, a role of cytoplasmic factors is suggested

Seed Yield, Floral Morphology, and Lack of Male-fertility Restoration of Male-sterile Onion (Allium cepa) Populations Possessing the Cytoplasm of Allium galanthum

The primary source (S cytoplasm) of cytoplasmic-genic male sterility (CMS) used to produce hybrid-onion (Allium cepa L.) seed traces back to a single plant identified in 1925 in Davis, California. Many open-pollinated populations also possess this cytoplasm, creating an undesirable state of cytoplasmic uniformity. Transfer of cytoplasms from related species into cultivated populations may produce new sources of CMS. In an attempt to diversify the cytoplasms conditioning male sterility, the cytoplasm of Allium galanthum Kar. et Kir. was backcrossed for seven generations to bulb-onion populations. The flowers of galanthum-cytoplasmic populations possess upwardly curved perianth and filaments with no anthers, making identification of male-sterile plants easier than for either S- or T-cytoplasmic male-sterile onion plants. Mean seed yield per bulb of the galanthum-cytoplasmic populations was measured in cages using blue-bottle flies (Calliphora erythrocephala Meig.) as pollinators and was not significantly different from one of two S-cytoplasmic male-sterile F1 lines, a T-cytoplasmic male-sterile inbred line, or N-cytoplasmic male-fertile lines. Male-sterile lines possessing either the S or galanthum cytoplasm were each crossed with populations known to be homozygous dominant and recessive at the nuclear locus conditioning male-fertility restoration of S cytoplasm and progenies were scored for male-fertility restoration. Nuclear restorers of male fertility for S cytoplasm did not condition male fertility for the galanthum-cytoplasmic populations. It is intended that these galanthum-cytoplasmic onion populations be used as an alternative male-sterile cytoplasm for the diversification of hybrid onion seed production.

Mitochondrial orf107 transcription, editing, and nucleolytic cleavage conferred by the gene Rf3 are expressed in sorghum pollen

Restoration of male fertility in the A3, IS1112C source of cytoplasmic male sterility (cms) in sorghum is exacted in a gametophytic manner. One required nuclear gene, Rf3, regulates a nucleolytic transcript processing activity, cleaving sequences internal to the chimeric mitochondrial open reading frame orf107. We examined mitochondrial transcription, RNA editing, and action of Rf3 in developing pollen from a male-sterile line, the progenitor, a male-fertile line, and the fertile F1 to determine if these expression processes were manifested at the haploid pollen stage. Steady-state levels of orf107 transcripts and nucleolytic processing conferred by Rf3 were similar to observations from leaves, indicating comparable expression in pollen. RNA editing frequency at two of three sites in orf107 was differentially suppressed compared to leaves, but editing was higher in male-sterile plants than in fertile plants, consistent with the possibility that nucleolytic cleavage is enhanced by editing. The differential suppression of editing frequency at two sites in orf107 contrasts with near-complete editing of a third site in orf107, shared with atp9, indicating that factors influencing editing frequency of the chimeric transcript are temporally regulated and sequence-specific. Since action of the nuclear gene Rf3 is manifested at the diploid and haploid stages, pollen-specific expression of this fertility restoration gene is not required in the A3 gametophytic cms system.

CMS sources in sunflower: different origin but same mechanism?

The presence of orfH522, orfH708 and orfH873 in the mtDNA, as well as the expression of mitochondrially encoded proteins, were investigated for 28 sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and HA89, a fertile line of Helianthus annuus. The whole 5-kb insertion, found in PET1, is also present in all PET1-like CMS sources. However, with regard to the 11-kb inversion ANO1 demonstrated a different organization at the cob locus from the other PET1-like CMS sources. Only orfH873 gave hybridization patterns in all investigated cytoplasms. For the fertile cytoplasm, as well as ANN4, ANN5, ANL1, ANL2, ARG2 and MAX1, hybridizations obtained with orfH708 were highly polymorphic. Hybridization signals with orfH522 were only detectable in the PET1-like CMS sources and MAX1. Comparing the mitochondrially encoded proteins of the CMS sources characteristic patterns could be detected for seven cytoplasms in addition to the PET1-like CMS sources expressing the 16-kDa protein. For ANN1 and ANN3 three CMS-associated proteins of 16.3 kDa, 16.9 kDa and 34.0 kDa could be identified among the in organello translation products. Also ANT1 expressed three additional proteins of 13.4 kDa, 17.8 kDa and 19.7 kDa, respectively. In ARG3 and RIG1 one protein of 17.5 kDa was missing and instead a new protein of 16.9 kDa appeared. In addition, in GIG1 and PET2 a unique protein of 12.4 kDa could be identified. These results indicate that certain types of cytoplasmic male sterility are preferentially present in sunflower.

Nicotiana tabacum L. as a source of cytoplasmic male sterility in interspecific cross with N. alata Link & Otto

A new source of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in tobacco with interspecific origin is reported. In traditional selection wild tobacco species have been used as donors of cytoplasm. In the present study the cultivated species Nicotiana tabacum L. (n = 24) is a source of CMS. It was used as female parent and N. alata (n = 9) was involved as a pollinator. The F1 hybrid of this cross was completely sterile. Tissue culture method was applied to restore the female fertility. Regenerants obtained from the 5th passage were successfully pollinated with N. tabacum and seed-containing capsules were formed. All BC1P1 plants were male sterile. They possessed normally developed corollas, three-loculed or deformed pistils, and 1–2 stamens modified into secondary pistils. In some plants stamenless flowers were observed. Male sterility of BC1P1 was preserved in BC2P1–BC7P1 progenies confirming its cytoplasmic nature.