Molecular analysis of the inheritance of the S-5 locus,conferring wide compatibility in Indica/Japonica hybrids of rice (O. sativa L.)

RFLP analysis was conducted on a population derived from a three-way cross to determine the location of the hybrid sterility locus, S-5, in relation to mapped molecular markers and to identify markers that would be useful for selection in breeding. S-5 is of interest to rice breeders because it is associated with spikelet sterility of F₁ hybrids in Indica/Japonica crosses. Identification of an S-5 allele which confers fertility in Indica/Japonica hybrids when introgressed into either the Indica or the Japonica parent has been reported. Varieties carrying this S-5 ⁿ allele are known as wide compatibility varieties (WCV). Our data suggests that RFLP marker RG213 on chromosome 6 is closely linked to the S-5 locus and can be efficiently used to identify wide compatibility (WC) lines. RG213 is a single-copy genomic clone that detects three bands of different molecular weights in DNA from Japonica (Akihikari) and Indica (IR36) varieties and WC line (Nekken 2). We demonstrate that the three alleles detected by this marker could be used to trace the inheritance of the wide compatible phenotype in breeders' material.     

Fine mapping of S32(t), a new gene causing hybrid embryo sac sterility in a Chinese landrace rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Ketan Nangka, the donor of wide compatibility genes, showed sterility when crossed to Tuanguzao, a landrace rice from Yunnan province, China. Genetic and cytological analyses revealed that the semi-sterility was primarily caused by partial abortion of the embryo sac. Genome-wide analysis of the linkage map constructed from the backcross population of Tuanguzao/Ketan Nangka//Ketan Nangka identified two independent loci responsible for the hybrid sterility located on chromosomes 2 and 5, which explained 18.6 and 20.1% of phenotypic variance, respectively. The gene on chromosome 5 mapped to the previously reported sterility gene S31(t), while the gene on chromosome 2, a new hybrid sterility gene, was tentatively designated as S32(t). The BC₁F₂ was developed for further confirmation and fine mapping of S32(t). The gene S32(t) was precisely mapped to the same region as that detected in the BC₁F₁ but its position was narrowed down to an interval of about 1.9 cM between markers RM236 and RM12475. By assaying the recombinant events in the BC₁F₂, S32(t) was further narrowed down to a 64 kb region on the same PAC clone. Sequence analysis of this fragment revealed seven predicted open reading frames, four of which encoded known proteins and three encoded putative proteins. Further analyses showed that wide-compatibility variety Dular had neutral alleles at loci S31(t) and S32(t) that can overcome the sterilities caused by these two genes. These results are useful for map-based cloning of S32(t) and for marker-assisted transferring of the neutral allele in hybrid rice breeding.     

水稻广亲和性遗传的再研究

水稻广亲和基因的利用是克服亚种间杂种不育性的重要途径。但在广亲和性的遗传上不同研究者的结论不尽一致。以3种有广亲和品种参加的三交组合为研究材料,研究了品种Ketan Nangka的广亲和性遗传。结果表明水稻亚种杂交F1同时存在着雄性不育和雌性不育,但雄性不育对小穗育性的作用大小因组合而异;无论是在雄性不育位点还是雄性不育位点上,Ketan Nangka均具有相对应的中性基因（广亲和基因）;广亲和性的遗传特点与所用的籼粳测验品种间的杂种不育性密切相关;S－5位点的广亲和基因遗传符合单位点孢子体－配子体互作模型。     

Epistasis underlying female sterility detected in hybrid breakdown in a Japonica–Indica cross of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Epistasis is considered to be a primary genetic basis of hybrid breakdown. We found novel epistatic genes causing hybrid breakdown in an intraspecific cross of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.). F₂ progeny derived from a cross between a Japonica variety, Asominori, and an Indica variety, IR24, showed segregation of high sterility for seeds, even though the reciprocal F₁ hybrids showed about 60% seed fertility. Backcross populations (BC₃F₂, BC₃F₃), obtained from repeated backcrossing with Asominori, showed the segregation of causal genes in a simple Mendelian fashion. Using these populations, we identified that this sterility was hybrid breakdown caused by interaction among three nuclear genes distributed on the both parental genomes. These new genes, designated as hsa1, hsa2, and hsa3, were found to be involved in female gamete development by histological examination. The Indica parent IR24 has a sterile allele, hsa1-IR, which was located at near RFLP marker G148 on chromosome 12, whereas the Japonica parent Asominori has two sterile alleles, hsa2-As on chromosome 8 (close to G104) and hsa3-As on chromosome 9 (close to RM285). Female gametes carrying the hsa1-IR, hsa2-As, and hsa3-As alleles aborted in hsa1-IR homozygous plant, leading to seed sterility and selective elimination of the specific allelic combination. This study provides direct evidence that hybrid breakdown is attributed to epistatic interaction of genes from both parents and suggests that complicated mechanisms has been developed for hybrid breakdown during the evolution of rice.     

Assessing hybrid sterility in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza glaberrima</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. sativa</Emphasis> hybrid progenies by PCR marker analysis and crossing with wide compatibility varieties

Interspecific crossing of the African indigenous rice Oryza glaberrima with Oryza sativa cultivars is hindered by crossing barriers causing 100% spikelet sterility in F₁ hybrids. Since hybrids are partially female fertile, fertility can be restored by back crossing (BC) to a recurrent male parent. Distinct genetic models on spikelet sterility have been developed predicting, e.g., the existence of a gamete eliminator and/or a pollen killer. Linkage of sterility to the waxy starch synthase gene and the chromogen gene C, both located on chromosome 6, have been demonstrated. We selected a segregating BC₂F₃ population of semi-sterile O. glaberrima × O. sativa indica hybrid progenies for analyses with PCR markers located at the respective chromosome-6 region. These analyses revealed that semi-sterile plants were heterozygous for a marker (OSR25) located in the waxy promoter, whereas fertile progenies were homozygous for the O. glaberrima allele. Adjacent markers showed no linkage to spikelet sterility. Semi-sterility of hybrid progenies was maintained at least until the F₄ progeny generation, suggesting the existence of a pollen killer in this plant material. Monitoring of reproductive plant development showed that spikelet sterility was at least partially due to an arrest of pollen development at the microspore stage. In order to address the question whether genes responsible for F₁ sterility in intraspecific hybrids (O. sativa indica × japonica) also cause spikelet sterility in interspecific hybrids, crossings with wide compatibility varieties (WCV) were performed. WCV accessions possess "neutral" S-loci (Sⁿ) improving fertility in intraspecific hybrids. This experiment showed that the tested Sⁿ-loci had no fertility restoring effect in F₁ interspecific hybrids. Pollen development was completely arrested at the microspore stage and grains were never obtained after selfing. This suggests that distinct or additional S-loci are responsible for sterility of O. glaberrima × O. sativa hybrids.Communicated by H.C. Becker     

Fine mapping of a gene causing hybrid pollen sterility between Yunnan weedy rice and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) and phylogenetic analysis of Yunnan weedy rice

Weedy rice represents an important resource for rice improvement. The F₁ hybrid between the japonica wide compatibility rice cultivar 02428 and a weedy rice accession from Yunnan province (SW China) suffered from pollen sterility. Pollen abortion in the hybrid occurred at the early bicellular pollen stage, as a result of mitotic failure in the microspore, although the tapetum developed normally. Genetic mapping in a BC₁F₁ population (02428//Yunnan weedy rice (YWR)/02428) showed that a major QTL for hybrid pollen sterility (qPS-1) was present on chromosome 1. qPS-1 was fine-mapped to a 110 kb region known to contain the hybrid pollen sterility gene Sa, making it likely that qPS-1 is either identical to, or allelic with Sa. Interestingly, F₁ hybrid indicated that Dular and IR36 were assumed to carry the sterility-neutral allele, Sa ⁿ . Re-sequencing SaM and SaF, the two component genes present at Sa, suggested that variation for IR36 and Dular may be responsible for the loss of male sterility, and the qPS-1 sequence might be derived from wild rice or indica cultivars. A phylogenetic analysis based on microsatellite genotyping suggested that the YWR accession is more closely related to wild rice and indica type cultivars than to japonica types. Thus it is probable that the YWR accession evolved from a spontaneous hybrid between wild rice and an ancient cultivated strain of domesticated rice.     

Inheritance and mapping of embryo sac abortion in hybrid between Indica and Japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A doubled haploid (DH) population derived from anther culture of F₁’s between an Indica var. Zhai-Ye-Qing 8 and a Japonica var. Jing-Xi17 as well as two backcross populations derived from this DH population were used to investigate inheritance of the embryo sac abortion at early megagametogenesis occurring in Indica/Japonica rice crosses. Two major loci, dominant and complementaryesa-1 andesa-2, located on chromosomes 6 and 12 respectively, were detected. Genetic analysis indicated that embryo sac fertility is mainly regulated by the gametophytic genotype at these two loci.     

Identification of neutral alleles at pollen sterility gene loci of cultivated rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) from wild rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">O. rufipogon</Emphasis> Griff.)

Oryza rufipogon Griff. is the ancestor of Asian cultivated rice (O. sativa L.) and possesses valuable genes for rice breeding. Pollen abortion is one of the major causes of indica–japonica hybrid sterility in rice and it happens due to allelic interaction at the pollen sterility gene loci. A total of six loci (Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd, Se, and Sf) have been found to be associated with F₁ pollen sterility between indica and japonica rice, and five of them (all except Sf) have been mapped. Neutral alleles (S ⁿ ) at each locus have the potential to overcome the pollen sterility associated with the respective locus. Therefore, exploitation and utilization of neutral alleles have significant importance in overcoming indica–japonica hybrid sterility. In this study, an accession (IRW28) of O. rufipogon, native to China, was selected as paternal to cross with typical japonica (Taichung 65) and indica (Guanglu’ai 4) tester lines, and two F₂ populations were developed. The simple sequence repeat markers tightly linked to five pollen sterility loci were applied for genotyping the F₂ populations. Chi-squared tests were applied to examine the normal segregation/distortion at each locus. The expected and observed pollen sterility for each locus were estimated. As a result, the genotypes at five pollen sterility gene loci for IRW28 were identified as: Sa ⁱ⁻¹/Sa ⁱ⁻¹, Sb ⁿ /Sb ⁿ , Sc ⁱ⁻²/Sc ⁱ⁻², Sd ⁿ /Sd ⁿ and Se ⁿ /Se ⁿ . Our results suggest that IRW28 (O. rufipogon) has the neutral alleles for pollen fertility at the Sb, Sd and Se loci, and these alleles have a good affinity with indica and japonica rice. These neutral alleles provide valuable gene resources to overcome the inter-subspecific hybrid pollen sterility in rice.     

Is an egg-killer present in rice?

The genetic model for hybrid sterility that an allelic interaction at the S ₅ locus induces the abortion of megaspores has been proposed as partial clarification of the wide compatibility in Asian rice cultivars; this model predicts the presence of an egg-killer. The present study was carried out in order to confirm that the proposed S ₅ ⁱ allele acts as an egg-killer against its counterpart, the S ₅ ^j allele, in the Indica-Japonica hybrid. A conspicuous feature of an egg-killer is the high rate of its transmission into the progeny through the egg. Backcrossing experiments were conducted using the Indica-Japonica hybrid in which the S ₅ ⁱ and S ₅ ^j alleles were assumed to be involved. Although an egg-killer was easily identified by these backcross experiments, it was not detected in the Indica-Japonica hybrid, which suggests that the proposed genetic mechanism for hybrid sterility in Asian rice should be viewed with caution.     

Mapping of a wide compatibility locus in indica rice using SSR markers

Hybrid sterility between indica and japonica subspecies in rice is basically caused by partial abortion of gametes and hybrid fertility could be recovered by a single wide compatibility (WC) allele. In this study, a typical indica germplasm source of rice, UPRI 95-162, with strong wide compatibility in cross with japonica rice was studied for location of its WC locus. Bulked segregant analysis was performed and SSRs (simple sequence repeats) were conducted on a F₁ population derived from a three-way cross (UPRI 95-162/T8//Akihikari). The locus was located on chromosome 1 approximately 0.2 cM to SSR markers RM581 on one side and 1.5 cM to RM292 on another. This WC locus, tentatively designated as S-20 ⁿ (t), and its tight linkage markers, RM581 and RM292, would be very useful for efficient marker-assisted selection for breeding new WC varieties and for map-based cloning of the gene.     

栽培稻杂种不育性的遗传研究——Ⅲ.不同类型品种F_1花粉不育性的等位基因分化

以台中65等基因F_1不育系为遗传测验种,测定了栽培稻(O.sativa)45个品种在3个F_1不育基因座的基因型和等位基因的分化度。在S-E3基因座上,除Dular带有S_i/S_i基因型外,其余被测品种均带有S_i/S_i基因型。在S-E2和S-E5基因座上,籼型品种带有高频率的S_i基因,而粳型品种带有高频率的S_i基因。S_i和S_i均具有不同的分化度。籼型品种携带的S_i基因和粳型品种携带的S_i基因具有较高的分化度。中间型品种和广亲和品种的等位基因分化在S-E2基因座上与粳型品种相似,而在S-E5基因座上与籼型品种相似。此外,分析了各类型品种相互杂交F_1杂种在S-E2和S-E5基因座的杂合率、杂合度和杂合性。与籼/粳杂种相比,中间型品种(包括广亲和品种)与籼型和粳型品种杂交,F_1杂种均具有较低的平均杂合性,从而表现出较高的亲和性。因此,无论是杂种不育性还是杂种亲和性均由花粉不育基因控制。花粉不育基因也称为特异亲和基因。     

The effects of cold-pretreatment,auxins and carbon source on anther culture of rice

The effects of a cold pretreatment, the concentration of different auxins (2,4-D, NAA and IAA) and the type of carbon source (maltose and sucrose) on the induction of callus from anthers of three parental lines and four rice F₁ hybrids (Japonica × Indica, Indica × Japonica) were studied. The results indicated that a cold pretreatment was essential for the induction of callus from anthers of the parental lines and the F₁ hybrids. These effects were genotype dependent. Auxins were essential for the induction of callus, and the type and concentration of auxins also influenced this process, as well as the type of carbon source. The greatest induction of callus was by the hybrid Morelos A92 × Koshihikari after a cold pretreatment of 8 days using 10.74 M –napthaleneacetic acid and 30 g l^–1 maltose.     

Diverse variation of reproductive barriers in three intraspecific rice crosses

Reproductive barriers are thought to play an important role in the processes of speciation and differentiation. Asian rice cultivars, Oryza sativa, can be classified into two main types, Japonica and Indica, on the basis of several characteristics. The fertility of Japonica-Indica hybrids differs from one cross to another. Many genes involved in reproductive barriers (hybrid sterility, hybrid weakness, and gametophytic competition genes) have been reported in different Japonica-Indica crosses. To clarify the state of Japonica-Indica differentiation, all reproductive barriers causing deviation from Mendelian segregation ratios in F(2) populations were mapped and compared among three different Japonica-Indica crosses: Nipponbare/Kasalath (NK), Fl1084/Dao Ren Qiao (FD), and Fl1007/Kinandang puti (FK). Mapping of reproductive barriers was performed by regression analysis of allele frequencies of DNA markers covering the entire genome. Allele frequencies were explained by 33 reproductive barriers (15 gametophytic and 18 zygotic) in NK, 32 barriers (15 gametophytic and 17 zygotic) in FD, and 37 barriers (19 gametophytic and 18 zygotic) in FK. The number of reproductive barriers in the three crosses was similar; however, most of the barriers were mapped at different loci. Therefore, these reproductive barriers formed after Japonica-Indica differentiation. Considering the high genetic similarity within Japonica and Indica cultivars, the differences in the reproductive barriers of each cross were unexpectedly numerous. The reproductive barriers of Japonica-Indica hybrids likely evolved more rapidly than other genetic elements. One possible force responsible for such rapid evolution of the barriers may have been the domestication of rice.     

Prdm9 Intersubspecific Interactions in Hybrid Male Sterility of House Mouse

The classical definition posits hybrid sterility as a phenomenon when two parental taxa each of which is fertile produce a hybrid that is sterile. The first hybrid sterility gene in vertebrates, Prdm9, coding for a histone methyltransferase, was identified in crosses between two laboratory mouse strains derived from Mus mus musculus and M. m. domesticus subspecies. The unique function of PRDM9 protein in the initiation of meiotic recombination led to the discovery of the basic molecular mechanism of hybrid sterility in laboratory crosses. However, the role of this protein as a component of reproductive barrier outside the laboratory model remained unclear. Here, we show that the Prdm9 allelic incompatibilities represent the primary cause of reduced fertility in intersubspecific hybrids between M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus including 16 musculus and domesticus wild-derived strains. Disruption of fertility phenotypes correlated with the rate of failure of synapsis between homologous chromosomes in meiosis I and with early meiotic arrest. All phenotypes were restored to normal when the domesticus Prdm9^dom2 allele was substituted with the Prdm9^dom2H humanized variant. To conclude, our data show for the first time the male infertility of wild-derived musculus and domesticus subspecies F1 hybrids controlled by Prdm9 as the major hybrid sterility gene. The impairment of fertility surrogates, testes weight and sperm count, correlated with increasing difficulties of meiotic synapsis of homologous chromosomes and with meiotic arrest, which we suppose reflect the increasing asymmetry of PRDM9-dependent DNA double-strand breaks.     

Distribution of the genes causing F2 chlorosis in rice cultivars of the Indica and Japonica types

Summary Chlorotic plants were segregated in F₂ populations in varietal crosses of common rice. The genetic basis and distribution of the genes causing F₂ chlorosis in native cultivars were studied to examine the role of the F₂ chlorosis in varietal differentiation of rice. It was proven that this F₂ chlorosis was controlled by a set of duplicate genes, hca-1 and hca-2. The hca-2 gene was widely distributed in native cultivars of the Japonica type, while many Indica types carried its dominant allele hca-2 ⁺. Japanese cultivar J-147 carried hca-2. The hca-1 gene was frequently distributed in cultivars containing the Hwc-2 gene for F₁ weakness. We concluded that F₂ chlorosis does not cause or promote varietal differentiation in rice.     

Identification of simple sequence repeat markers for utilizing wide-compatibility genes in inter-subspecific hybrids in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Although pronounced heterosis in inter-subspecific hybrids was known in rice for a long time, its utilization for hybrid rice breeding has been limited due to their hybrid sterility (HS). For the last two decades, however, a few inter-subspecific hybrids have been developed by incorporating wide-compatibility genes (WCG) that resolve HS, into parental lines of these inter-subspecific hybrids. For effective use of WCG, it is necessary to find convenient markers linked to WCG of practical importance. In this paper, initially a set of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in the vicinity of known WCG loci identified based on comparative linkage maps have been surveyed in a population derived from the three-way cross- IR36/Dular//Akihikari, where a known donor of WCG Dular was crossed to a representative indica and japonica cultivar. Of the five parental polymorphic markers, RM253 and RM276 were found to be closely linked to the WCG locus S5 at a distance of 3.0 and 2.8 cM, respectively. Later, loci for HS were examined in three F₂ populations derived from inter-subspecific crosses, with same set of SSR markers. The locus S8 was confirmed to have major influence on HS in the F₂ population derived from CHMRF-1/Taichung65 since two SSR markers in its vicinity, RM412 and RM141, co-segregated with HS at a map distance of 7.6 and 4.8 cM, respectively. In the F₂ population derived from the cross BPT5204/Taipei309, three SSR markers in the vicinity of S5, RM50, RM276 and RM136 co-segregated with HS at a map distance of 4.2, 3.2 and 7.8 cM, respectively. In the third F₂ population derived from Swarna/Taipei309, the SSR markers in the vicinity of S5, RM225, RM253, RM50, RM276 and RM136 were identified to co-segregate with HS at a map distance of 3.2, 2.6, 3.4, 2.6 and 6.6 cM, respectively. These results indicated a clear picture of WCG in Dular as well as the predominant role of HS alleles at S5 locus. The identified SSR markers are expected to be used for incorporation of WCG into parental lines in hybrid rice breeding to solve HS in inter-subspecific hybrids.S.P. Singh , R.M. Sundaram contributed equally     

High-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping for breeding applications in rice using the BeadXpress platform

Multiplexed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers have the potential to increase the speed and cost-effectiveness of genotyping, provided that an optimal SNP density is used for each application. To test the efficiency of multiplexed SNP genotyping for diversity, mapping and breeding applications in rice (Oryza sativa L.), we designed seven GoldenGate VeraCode oligo pool assay (OPA) sets for the Illumina BeadXpress Reader. Validated markers from existing 1536 Illumina SNPs and 44?K Affymetrix SNP chips developed at Cornell University were used to select subsets of informative SNPs for different germplasm groups with even distribution across the genome. A 96-plex OPA was developed for quality control purposes and for assigning a sample into one of the five O. sativa population subgroups. Six 384-plex OPAs were designed for genetic diversity analysis, DNA fingerprinting, and to have evenly-spaced polymorphic markers for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and background selection for crosses between different germplasm pools in rice: Indica/Indica, Indica/Japonica, Japonica/Japonica, Indica/O. rufipogon, and Japonica/O. rufipogon. After testing on a diverse set of rice varieties, two of the SNP sets were re-designed by replacing poor-performing SNPs. Pilot studies were successfully performed for diversity analysis, QTL mapping, marker-assisted backcrossing, and developing specialized genetic stocks, demonstrating that 384-plex SNP genotyping on the BeadXpress platform is a robust and efficient method for marker genotyping in rice.     

A simple chromosomal marker can reliably distinguishes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Poncirus</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus</Emphasis> species

Several chromosome types have been recognized in Citrus and related genera by chromomycin A₃ (CMA) banding patterns and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). They can be used to characterize cultivars and species or as markers in hybridization and backcrossing experiments. In the present work, characterization of six cultivars of P. trifoliata (“Barnes”, “Fawcett”, “Flying Dragon”, “Pomeroy”, “Rubidoux”, “USDA”) and one P. trifoliata × C. limonia hybrid was performed by sequential analyses of CMA banding and FISH using 5S and 45S rDNA as probes. All six cultivars showed a similar CMA⁺ banding pattern with the karyotype formula 4B + 8D + 6F. The capital letters indicate chromosomal types: B, a chromosome with one telomeric and one proximal band; D, with only one telomeric band; F, without bands. In situ hybridization labeling was also similar among cultivars. Three chromosome pairs displayed a closely linked set of 5S and 45S rDNA sites, two of them co-located with the proximal band of the B type chromosomes (B/5S-45S) and the third one co-located with the terminal band of a D pair (D/5S-45S). The B/5S-45S chromosome has never been found in any citrus accessions investigated so far. Therefore, this B chromosome can be used as a marker to recognize the intergeneric Poncirus × Citrus hybrids. The intergeneric hybrid analyzed here displayed the karyotype formula 4B + 8D + 6F, with two chromosome types B/5S-45S and two D/5S-45S. The karyotype formula and the presence of two B/5S-45S chromosomes clearly indicate that the plant investigated is a symmetric hybrid. It also demonstrates the suitability of karyotype analyses to differentiate zygotic embryos or somatic cell fusions involving trifoliate orange germplasm. During the submission of this paper, we analyzed 25 other citrus cultivars with the same methodology and we found that the chromosome marker reported here can indeed distinguish Poncirus trifoliata from grapefruits, pummelos, and one variegated access of Citrus, besides the previously reported access of limes, limons, citrons, and sweet-oranges. However, among 14 mandarin cultivars, two of them displayed a single B/5S-45S chromosome, whereas in Citrus hystrix D.C., a far related species belonging to the Papeda subgenus, this chromosome type was found in homozygosis. Since these two mandarin cultivars are probably of hybrid origin, we assume that for almost all commercial cultivars and species of the subgenus Citrus this B type chromosome is a useful genetic marker.     

Segregation of male‐sterility alleles across a species boundary

Hybrid zones may serve as bridges permitting gene flow between species, including alleles influencing the evolution of breeding systems. Using greenhouse crosses, we assessed the likelihood that a hybrid zone could serve as a conduit for transfer of nuclear male‐sterility alleles between a gynodioecious species and a hermaphroditic species with very rare females in some populations. Segregation patterns in progeny of crosses between rare females of hermaphroditic Schiedea menziesii and hermaphroditic plants of gynodioecious Schiedea salicaria heterozygous at the male‐sterility locus, and between female S. salicaria and hermaphroditic plants from the hybrid zone, were used to determine whether male‐sterility was controlled at the same locus in the parental species and the hybrid zone. Segregations of females and hermaphrodites in approximately equal ratios from many of the crosses indicate that the same nuclear male‐sterility allele occurs in the parent species and the hybrid zone. These rare male‐sterility alleles in S. menziesii may result from gene flow from S. salicaria through the hybrid zone, presumably facilitated by wind pollination in S. salicaria. Alternatively, rare male‐sterility alleles might result from a reversal from gynodioecy to hermaphroditism in S. menziesii, or possibly de novo evolution of male sterility. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that some species of Schiedea have probably evolved separate sexes independently, but not in the lineage containing S. salicaria and S. menziesii. High levels of selfing and expression of strong inbreeding depression in S. menziesii, which together should favour females in populations, argue against a reversal from gynodioecy to hermaphroditism in S. menziesii.     

Developmental genetics of a P element induced allele of suppressor-of-forked in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary In this paper we describe a new allele of suppressor of forked, su(f) ^hd37, referred to as hd37, which was isolated in a hybrid dysgenesis mutation screen and is shown to be P induced by its high frequency of reversion in hybrid dysgenic crosses, and by in situ hybridization. hd37 suppresses forked and fails to complement the forked suppression of known su(f) alleles. However, it complements the recessive lethality of alleles in both of the su(f) lethal complementation groups. We also describe a new phenotypic effect of su(f) alleles, the enhancement of Minute(3)i ⁵⁵. Recessive lethal alleles enhance the lethal effects of this Minute, but hd37 does not. The temperature sensitive period for forked bristle suppression by hd37 was found to be very narrow, consisting of a short interval (12–18 h) immediately before bristle formation. These results suggest that the several genetic functions associated with this locus may be genetically separable.Journal paper No. J-12137 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 2746