Variety traits

Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Sunflower

Helianthus annuus L.

A genetic mechanism for controlling male sterility in sunflower, used to create heterotic hybrids and eliminate the need for manual emasculation of maternal lines. It is based on specific mitochondrial markers and nuclear fertility-restorer genes.

In the reference 74 varieties crop Sunflower, where this is mentioned in the description.

The primary tool for assessing sterility is cytological analysis of pollen, which determines its degree of defectiveness. Sterile lines based on the most common PET1 CMS type are characterized by the absence of viable pollen or anther degeneration, with the standard requirement for sterility in maternal forms being 95–98%.

Molecular genetic identification of a line's status is conducted using PCR methods to detect the mitochondrial gene orfH522 and the nuclear fertility-restorer genes Rf1. The use of the CMS-Rf system allows for the breeding of highly productive hybrids; however, the high proportion of hybrids based on PET1 cytoplasm creates a risk of genetic vulnerability, which stimulates the search for alternative types, such as RIG0.

General information about the subject — on the page Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS).

Sources8

Varieties of Sunflower mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.