Mitochondrial genome organization and expression associated with cytoplasmic male sterility in sunflower (Helianthus annuus).

A comparative investigation of the organization and expression of the mitochondrial genome in fertile and cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) sunflower (Helianthus annuus) has been undertaken. A region of mitochondrial genome variation between the two phenotypes has been located in the 3' flanking region of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of the F1 ATPase (atpA). Physical mapping and sequence analysis have been used to show that a rearrangement involving an inversion and an insertion has occurred immediately downstream of the atpA coding region in the mitochondrial DNA from sterile sunflower. This rearrangement has resulted in the creation of a new open reading frame (ORFc) which is co-transcribed with atpA in sterile sunflower. In organello labelling of mitochondrial translation products from the two types of sunflower shows that a 15 kDa protein is synthesized by the mitochondria from sterile sunflower but not by those from fertile plants. The ORFc sequence could encode this 15 kDa protein which may be causally related to the CMS phenotype.     

Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Helianthus annuus in relation to cytoplasmic male sterility and phylogeny

Summary A circular supercoiled mitochondrial DNA plasmid P₁ (1.45 kb) is shown in both normal fertile plants of Helianthus annuus, and some cytoplasmic male sterile lines (CMS A and CMS P). In contrast, no plasmid is found in some other types of CMS C, I, B and K. A circular supercoiled DNA (P₂) of higher molecular weight (1.8 kb) is observed in CMS F. The mitochondrial plasmid P₁ was cloned, nick-translated and hybridized with native mitochondrial DNA from different lines of male fertile, CMS or wild Helianthus. No sequence homology has been detected between plasmid DNA P₁ and high molecular weight mitochondrial DNA in any line examined. A slight hybridization occurs between plasmids P₁ and P₂. Thus, there is no apparent relationship between mitochondrial plasmid DNA and CMS or Helianthus species. On the contrary, each Helianthus CMS and male fertile strain can be characterized by digestion fragment patterns (Sal I and Bgl I). Analysis of mitochondrial DNA from wild Helianthus strains indicated a relation between some CMS and the strain from which they were maternally derived, as for example CMS I and H. annuus ssp lenticularis and CMS F and H. petiolaris fallax. On the basis of restriction endonuclease patterns, a CMS phylogenic tree is proposed which illustrates a molecular polymorphism in the mitochondrial genome of Helianthus.     

Cytoplasmic male sterility in sunflower: comparison of molecular biology and genetic studies

The genetics of male fertility restoration and the RFLP of mitochondrial DNA were studied for 16 sunflower cytoplasms (15 male-sterile and a male-fertile).Male fertility restoration/male sterility maintenance patterns distinguished 12 cytotypes. Four cytoplasms were completely unrestored so they were not distinguished genetically. The sunflower lines, tested for their restorer/maintenance reaction, showed that there was a continuous range between 0% and 100% of restorer genotypes according to the CMS considered. Restoration/maintenance patterns indicated that at least some restorer genes are specific to certain CMS.RFLP of mitochondrial DNA revealed specific differences between the cytotypes studied. Three restriction enzymes and 12 probes permitted distinction of 13 cytotypes. No relationship exists between CMS cytotypes and the species from which they originated.For genetical and mitochondrial RFLP studies, phenograms were constructed according to the similarity indexes between cytotypes. Most of the CMS defined by restoration patterns correspond with a restriction fragment pattern of mitochondrial DNA.     

Molecular characterization of a new type of cytoplasmic male sterile sugar beet

A line (named Cl) of cytoplasmic sterility of sugar beet whose cytoplasm derived from Betacicla Turkey was obtained by interspecific hybrid. Its cytoplasm and a spontaneous male sterile cytoplasm from wild beet Beta maritima (named M) were compared with that of Owen's sterile line (S-cms) and a common maintainer of them named N was used as control. RFLP and RAPD methods were mainly used in our experiments. The restriction fragment patterns of mtDNAs were found to be likely but for a few of specific low-lighted electrophoresis bands in Cl. The results of Southern hybridization of six heterogeneous mitochondrial genes as probes to digests of mtDNAs by six restriction enzymes showed to be analogous between S and M lines. But the Cl mtDNA was sorted out by hybridization of atpA probe. Difference of low-molecular-weight mitochondrial DNAs was found among the three sterile lines. Three RNA molecules weighing about 4.2kb stably existed in Cl mitochondria. Our results of RAPD also supported that the Cl cytoplas     

A fertile revertant from petaloid cytoplasmic male-sterile carrot has a rearranged mitochondrial genome

 A spontaneously derived fertile plant was recovered from a petaloid cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) carrot inbred line. Genetic analysis indicated a single nuclear gene was responsible for the restoration to fertility. Within a family segregating for the nuclear restorer in combination with the sterility-inducing cytoplasm, fertile plants were recovered that could not restore fertility when crossed to sterile genotypes. Genetic analysis indicated cytoplasmic reversion for fertility, and Southern analysis, comparing mtDNA organization of the fertile revertant and its CMS progenitor, identified mitochondrial genome rearrangements. Hybridization of cosmids representing a 108-kb subgenomic circle of the sterile line to DNA of a fertile maintainer and fertile revertant lines indicated a similar mtDNA organization for these genotypes that was distinct from that of the sterile line. Six restriction fragments totalling 43.2 kb were common to the fertile maintainer and revertant and absent in the sterile; other restriction fragments totalling 38.2 kb were present only for the sterile line. Unique fragments of low stoichiometry, two for the fertile maintainer and three for the revertant, distinguished these lines. The reversion to fertility in the sterile line could have resulted from the amplification of a mitochondrial submolar genome highly homologous to that found in the fertile maintainer line. Received: 4 October 1997/Accepted: 12 December 1997     

Independent segregation of the plastid genome and cytoplasmic male sterility in Petunia somatic hybrids

Summary The chloroplast genomes of three sets of Petunia somatic hybrids were analyzed to examine the relationship between chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) composition and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Chloroplast genomes of somatic hybrid plants were identified either by restriction and electrophoresis of purified cpDNAs or by hybridization of total DNA digests with cloned cpDNA probes that distinguish the parental genomes.The chloroplast genomes of a set of seven somatic hybrids derived from the fusion of Petunia CMS line 2423 and fertile line 3699 were analyzed. All seven plants were fertile, and all exhibited the cpDNA restriction pattern of the sterile cytoplasm. Similarly, four fertile somatic hybrids derived from the fusion of CMS line 3688 and fertile line 3677 were found to contain the CMS chloroplast genome. The cpDNA compositions of four fertile and two sterile somatic hybrids derived from the fusion of CMS line 3688 and fertile line 3704 were determined by restriction analysis of purified cpDNAs; all six plants exhibited the cpDNA restriction pattern of line 3704. Thus the CMS phenotype segregates independently of the chloroplast genome in Petunia somatic hybrids, indicating that CMS in Petunia is not specified by the chloroplast genome.     

Development of a molecular marker specific to a novel CMS line in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

In this study, we have investigated the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of a novel male sterile radish line, designated NWB CMS. The NWB CMS was crossed with 16 fertile breeding lines, and all the progenies were completely male sterile. The degree of male sterility exhibited by NWB CMS is more than Ogura CMS from the Cruciferae family. The NWB CMS was found to induce 100% male sterility when crossed with all the tested breeding lines, whereas the Ogura CMS did not induce male sterility with any of the breeding lines. PCR analysis revealed that the molecular factor that influenced Ogura CMS, the orf138 gene, was absent in the NWB CMS line, and that the orf138 gene was not also expressed in this CMS line. In order to identify the cytoplasmic factors that confer male sterility in the NWB CMS line, we carried out RFLP analyses with 32 mitochondrial genes, all of which were used as probes. Fourteen genes exhibited polymorphisms between the NWB CMS line and other radish cultivars. Based on these RFLP data, intergenic primers were developed in order to amplify the intergenic regions between the polymorphic genes. Among these, a primer pair at the 3′ region of the atp6 gene (5′-cgcttggactatgctatgtatga-3′) and the 5′ region of the nad3 gene (5′-tcatagagaaatccaatcgtcaa-3′) produced a 2 kbp DNA fragment as a result of PCR. This DNA fragment was found to be specific to NWB CMS and was not present in other CMS types. It appears that this fragment could be used as a DNA marker to select NWB CMS line in a radish-breeding program.     

Molecular markers of nuclear restoration gene Rf1 in sunflower using bulked segregant analysis-RAPD

Restoration of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in sunflower was demonstrated to be controlled by polygenes by analysing 982 effective crosses among 109 self-crossed lines and 16 CMS lines. Two self-crossed lines and one CMS line with distinct genotypes were applied to creation of segregating populations for DNA bulks of the target gene Rfl. Bulked DNA was prepared in order to investigate single gene Rfl and its gene marker among polygenic characters at the same genetic background. Using 80 10-mer operon primers, 620 RAPD reactions were carried out between fertile and sterile DNA bulks. In about 800 loci, primary results showed that 8 were related to the restoration genes. Furthermore. 2 were confirmed as RAPD markers for gene Rfl by examining 9 maintenance and 7 restoration lines. This method is the improvement for bulked segregant analysis[1] with which markers of single gene of target can be identified rapidly among polygenic characters.     

Transfer of the CMS trait in Daucus carota L. by donor-recipient protoplast fusion

Summary X-irradiated protoplasts of Daucus carota L., 28A1, carrying cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) cytoplasm and iodoacetamide-treated protoplasts of a fertile carrot cultivar, K5, were fused with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and 73 plants were regenerated. Twenty-six randomly chosen regenerated plants had non-parental mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as revealed by XbaI restriction fragment patterns, and all of the plants investigated had diploid chromosome numbers. Of the 11 cybrid plants that showed mtDNA fragment patterns clearly different from those of the parents, 10 plants showed male sterility with brown or red anthers, and one plant possessed partially sterile yellow anthers. The mtDNA fragment patterns of the ten cybrid plants with male sterile flowers resembled that of a CMS parent, 28A1; and four fragments were identified that were common between the sterile cybrid plants and 28A1, but absent from the partially sterile cybrid plants and a fertile cultivar, K5. The results indicated that the CMS trait of the donor was efficiently transferred into the cybrid plants by donor-recipient protoplast fusion.     

Production of asymmetric somatic hybrid plants between Cichorium intybus L. and Helianthus annuus L.

In order to obtain male-sterile asymmetric somatic hybrids between chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and a sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) male-sterile cytoplasmic line, mesophyll chicory protoplasts inactivated with iodoacetic acid and hypocotyl sunflower protoplasts irradiated with γ-rays have been fused, using PEG and applying two different procedures. Thirty three plants were regenerated from putative hybrid calli. A cytological analysis of their root-tip cells indicated that most of them had 18 chromosomes, the same number as chicory. Through Southern hybridisation on total DNA using the maize mitochondrial specific gene probes Cox I, Cox II and Cob, three plants were identified as cytoplasmic asymmetric hybrids, as shown by hybridisation bands specific for both chicory and sunflower. One of the regenerated plants produced a novel pattern of hybridisation that was not detected in either parent. When hybridisation of total DNA was carried out with an atpA mitochondrial gene probe the same three cybrids presented both the fertile chicory fragment and the male-sterile sunflower fragment. Finally, Southern hybridisation with an ORF 522 probe, which in sunflower is co-transcribed with the atpA gene, confirmed the hybrid nature of the three plants. The morphology of the cybrids resembled the parental chicory phenotype, and at anthesis their anthers produced fewer pollen grains which could not germinate either ”in vitro” or ”in situ.” Cybrid plants grown in the field produced seeds when free-pollination occurred. Received: 26 April 2000 / Accepted: 28 August 2000     

Transfer of wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility through protoplast fusion in rice

Wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility has been extensively used in hybrid seed production in the tropics. Using protoplast fusion between cytoplasmic male sterile and fertile maintainer lines; we report here, transfer of wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility to the nuclear background of RCPL1-2C, an advance breeding line which also served as maintainer of this cytoplasm. In total, 27 putative cybrids between V20A and RCPL1-2C and 23 lines between V20A and V20B were recovered and all of them were sterile. DNA blots prepared from the mitochondrial DNA of the cybrid lines from both the sets were probed with orf155 that is known to exhibit polymorphism between the mitochondrial DNA of the male-sterile and fertile maintainer lines. Hybridization of orf155 to 1.3 kb HindIII-digested mitochondrial DNA fragment of the cybrids showed transfer of mitochondrial DNA from wild abortive cytoplasmic male-sterile line to the maintainers, viz. RCPL 1-2C and V20B. Expression of male sterility was confirmed by the presence of sterile pollen grains and the lack of seed setting due to selfing in all the cybrid lines. These cybrids, on crossing with respective fertile maintainers set seeds that in turn, produced sterile BC1 plants. DNA blots from HindIII-digested mitochondrial DNA of these BC1 plants when probed with orf155 again exhibited localization of orf155 in wild abortive cytoplasm-specific 1.3 kb HindIII-digested mitochondrial DNA fragments. This demonstrated that the cytoplasmic male sterility transferred through protoplast fusion retained intact female fertility and was inherited and expressed in BC1 plants. Fusion-derived CMS lines, on pollination with pollen grains from restorer, showed restoration of fertility in all the lines. The results demonstrate that protoplasts fusion can be used for transferring maternally inherited traits like cytoplasmic male sterility to the desired nuclear background which can, in turn, be used in hybrid seed production programme of rice in the tropical world.     

Small mitochondrial DNA molecules of wild abortive cytoplasm in rice are not necessarily associated with CMS

Summary Mitochondrial DNA was isolated from leaf tissue of both the cytoplasmic male sterile line of Indica rice variety V41, which carries wild abortive (WA) cytoplasm, and from the corresponding maintainer line. In addition to the main mitochondrial DNA, four small plasmid-like DNA molecules were detected in both the male sterile and fertile lines. Restriction analysis of total mitochondrial DNA from the male sterile and fertile lines showed DNA fragments unique to each. Our findings suggest that the four small mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules are conserved when WA cytoplasm is transferred into different nuclear backgrounds. However, there is no simple correlation between the presence/ absence of small mitochondrial DNA molecules and the expression of WA cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS).