Mitochondrial ORF79 levels determine pollen abortion in cytoplasmic male sterile rice

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an important agricultural trait characterized by lack of functional pollen, and caused by ectopic and defective mitochondrial gene expression. The pollen function in CMS plants is restored by the presence of nuclear‐encoded restorer of fertility (Rf) genes. Previously, we cloned Rf2, which restores the fertility of Lead Rice (LD)‐type CMS rice. However, neither the function of Rf2 nor the identity of the mitochondrial gene causing CMS has been determined in LD–CMS rice. Here, we show that the mitochondrial gene orf79 acts as a CMS‐associated gene in LD–CMS rice, similar to its role in BT–CMS rice originating from Chinsurah Boro II, and Rf2 weakly restores fertility in BT–CMS rice. We also show that RF2 promotes degradation of atp6–orf79 RNA in a different manner from that of RF1, which is the Rf gene product in BT–CMS rice. The amount of ORF79 protein in LD–CMS rice was one‐twentieth of the amount in BT–CMS rice. The difference in ORF79 protein levels probably accounts for the mild and severe pollen defects in LD–CMS and BT–CMS rice, respectively. In the presence of Rf2, accumulation of ORF79 was reduced to almost zero and 25% in LD–CMS and BT–CMS rice, respectively, which probably accounts for the complete and weak fertility restoration abilities of Rf2 in LD–CMS and BT–CMS rice, respectively. These observations indicate that the amount of ORF79 influences the pollen fertility in two strains of rice in which CMS is induced by orf79.     

Two non-allelic nuclear genes restore fertility in a gametophytic pattern and enhance abiotic stress tolerance in the hybrid rice plant

In indica rice, the HongLian (HL)-type combination of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and fertility restoration (Rf) is widely used for the production of commercial hybrid seeds in China, Laos, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Generally, any member of the gametophytic fertility restoration system, 50% of the pollen in hybrid F(1) plants displays recovered sterility. In this study, however, a HL-type hybrid variety named HongLian You6 had approximately 75% normal (viable) pollen rather than the expected 50%. To resolve this discrepancy, several fertility segregation populations, including F(2) and BC(1)F(1) derived from the HL-CMS line Yuetai A crossed with the restorer line 9311, were constructed and subjected to genetic analysis. A gametophytic restoration model was discovered to involve two non-allelic nuclear restorer genes, Rf5 and Rf6. The Rf5 had been previously identified using a positional clone strategy. The Rf6 gene represents a new restorer gene locus, which was mapped to the short arm of chromosome 8. The hybrid F(1) plants containing one restorer gene, either Rf5 or Rf6, displayed 50% normal pollen grains with I(2)-KI solution; however, those with both Rf5 and Rf6 displayed 75% normal pollens. We also established that the hybrid F(1) plants including both non-allelic restorer genes exhibited an increased stable seed setting when subjected to stress versus the F(1) plants with only one restorer gene. Finally, we discuss the breeding scheme for the plant gametophytic CMS/Rf system.     

Comparative analysis of fertility restoration genes for WA,Y, and DA cytoplasmic male sterility in rice

Rice chromosome single segment substitution line (SSSL) W23-19-06-06-11 with the genotype Rf3Rf3/Rf4Rf4, a strong restorer line for wild-abortive (WA) cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), was recently identified from the SSSL library. To investigate the genetic mode of Rf genes and the genetic relationship among WA, yegong (Y), and dwarf-wildabortive (DA) CMS systems, the plants derived from three BC3F2 populations involving W23-19-06-06-11 and the three CMS lines, that carried the Rf3Rf3/Rf4Rf4, Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4, and rf3rf3/Rf4Rf4 genotypes and WA-, Y-, and DA-CMS cytoplasm, were selected and their pollen and spikelet fertility were evaluated. The results show that the genetic effect displayed a trend of Y-CMS > WA-CMS > DA-CMS in the genetic background of W23-19-06-06-11, the effect of Rf4 appeared to be slightly larger than that of Rf3, and their effects were additive for the three CMS systems. Two pairs of dominant genes governed the fertility restoration in pollen and spikelet in the W23-19-06-06-11 which indicates that the genetic mode of the Rf genes was a qualitative character for the three CMS systems.     

High intraspecific diversity of Restorer‐of‐fertility‐like genes in barley

Nuclear restorer of fertility (Rf) genes suppress the effects of mitochondrial genes causing cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), a condition in which plants fail to produce viable pollen. Rf genes, many of which encode RNA‐binding pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, are applied in hybrid breeding to overcome CMS used to block self‐pollination of the seed parent. Here, we characterise the repertoire of restorer‐of‐fertility‐like (RFL) PPR genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare). We found 26 RFL genes in the reference genome (‘Morex’) and an additional 51 putative orthogroups (POGs) in a re‐sequencing data set from 262 barley genotypes and landraces. Whereas the sequences of some POGs are highly conserved across hundreds of barley accessions, the sequences of others are much more variable. High sequence variation strongly correlates with genomic location – the most variable genes are found in a cluster on chromosome 1H. A much higher likelihood of diversifying selection was found for genes within this cluster than for genes present as singlets. This work includes a comprehensive analysis of the patterns of intraspecific variation of RFL genes. The RFL sequences characterised in this study will be useful for the development of new markers for fertility restoration loci.     

Genetic analysis of fertility restoration and accumulation of ORF125 mitochondrial protein in the kosena radish (Raphanus sativus cv. Kosena) and a Brassica napus restorer line

The genetics of fertility restoration (Rf) of kosena radish CMS has been characterized. The kosena CMS-Rf system is genetically the same as that of the ogura CMS-Rf system. Two dominant genes that act complementary to the restoration of fertility control fertility restoration in kosena CMS. One allele (Rf1) is associated with accumulation of the CMS-associated protein, ORF125. The interaction of Rf1 and another allele (Rf2) was essential for the restoration of fertility in radish, whereas Rf1 alone was sufficient for the complete restoration of fertility in the B. napus kosena CMS cybrid. Received: 13 August 1999 / Accepted: 16 September 1999     

普通小麦D2型CMS系恢复基因的遗传分析

在育性基因遗传特征研究的基础上,通过测交筛选出遗4060,M8003,6D／6R,GR1,960789,保769－22－6等几个高恢复系,F2代,F1BC1代的遗传分析结果和等位性测验,F1代自交可育株的连续选择结果证明这些恢复系的育性恢复受两对独立遗传的主效基因控制,同时存在剂量不等的微效基因,建议将这两对主效恢复基因定名为D^2Rf1,D^2Rf1,D^2Rf2,D^2Rf2。恢复系的选育应以模式C2（主效恢复基因＋微效恢复基因）为首选。     

Marker-assisted identification of restorer gene(s) in iso-cytoplasmic restorer lines of WA cytoplasm in rice and assessment of their fertility restoration potential across environments

Iso-cytoplasmic restorers possess the same male sterile cytoplasm as the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines, thereby minimizing the potential cyto-nuclear conflict in the hybrids. Restoration of fertility of the wild abortive CMS is governed by two major genes namely, Rf3 and Rf4. Therefore, assessing the allelic status of these restorer genes in the iso-cytoplasmic restorers using molecular markers will not only help in estimating the efficiency of these genes either alone or in combination, in fertility restoration in the hybrids in different environments, but will also be useful in determining the efficacy of these markers. In the present study, the efficiency of molecular markers in identifying genotypes carrying restorer allele of the gene(s) Rf3 and Rf4, restoring male fertility of WA cytoplasm in rice was assessed in a set of 100 iso-cytoplasmic rice restorers using gene linked as well as candidate gene based markers. In order to validate the efficacy of markers in identifying the restorers, a sub-set of selected 25 iso-cytoplasmic rice restorers were crossed with four different cytoplasmic male sterile lines namely, IR 79156A, IR 58025A, Pusa 6A and RTN 12A, and the pollen and spikelet fertility of the F₁s were evaluated at three different locations. Marker analysis showed that Rf4 was the predominant fertility restorer gene in the iso-cytoplasmic restorers and Rf3 had a synergistic effect on fertility restoration. The efficiency of gene based markers, DRCG-RF4-14 and DRRM-RF3-10 for Rf4 (87%) and Rf3 (84%) genes was higher than respective gene-linked SSR markers RM6100 (80%) and RM3873 (82%). It is concluded that the gene based markers can be effectively used in identifying fertility restorer lines obviating the need for making crosses and evaluating the F₁s. Though gene based markers are more efficient, there is a need to identify functional polymorphisms which can provide 100% efficiency. Three iso-cytoplasmic restorers namely, PRR 300, PRR 363 and PRR 396 possessing both Rf4 and Rf3 genes and good fertility restoration have been identified which could be used further in hybrid rice breeding.     

QTL involved in the partial restoration of male fertility of C-type cytoplasmic male sterility in maize

Partial restoration of male fertility limits the use of C-type cytoplasmic male sterility (C-CMS) for the production of hybrid seeds in maize. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of the trait is still unknown. Therefore, the aim to this study was to identify genomic regions that govern partial restoration by means of a QTL analysis carried out in an F₂ population (n = 180). This population was derived from the Corn Belt inbred lines B37C and K55. F₂BC₁ progenies were phenotyped at three locations in Switzerland. Male fertility was rated according to the quality and number of anthers as well as the anthesis-silking interval. A weak effect of environment on the expression of partial restoration was reflected by high heritabilities of all fertility-related traits. Partial restoration was inherited like an oligogenic trait. Three major QTL regions were found consistently across environments in the chromosomal bins 2.09, 3.06 and 7.03. Therefore, a marker-assisted counter-selection of partial restoration is promising. Minor QTL regions were found on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. A combination of partial restorer alleles at different QTL can lead to full restoration of fertility. The maternal parent was clearly involved in the partial restoration, because the restorer alleles at QTL in bins 2.09, 6.04 and 7.03 originated from B37. The three major QTL regions collocated with other restorer genes of maize, a phenomenon, which seems to be typical for restorer genes. Therefore, a study of the clusters of restorer genes in maize could lead to a better understanding of their evolution and function. In this respect, the long arm of chromosome 2 is particularly interesting, because it harbors restorer genes for the three major CMS systems (C, T and S) of maize.     

Increased efficiency of targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 in plants using heat stress

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has greatly improved our ability to engineer targeted mutations in eukaryotic genomes. While CRISPR/Cas9 appears to work universally, the efficiency of targeted mutagenesis and the adverse generation of off‐target mutations vary greatly between different organisms. In this study, we report that Arabidopsis plants subjected to heat stress at 37°C show much higher frequencies of CRISPR‐induced mutations compared to plants grown continuously at the standard temperature (22°C). Using quantitative assays relying on green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter genes, we found that targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 in Arabidopsis is increased by approximately 5‐fold in somatic tissues and up to 100‐fold in the germline upon heat treatment. This effect of temperature on the mutation rate is not limited to Arabidopsis, as we observed a similar increase in targeted mutations by CRISPR/Cas9 in Citrus plants exposed to heat stress at 37°C. In vitro assays demonstrate that Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) is more active in creating double‐stranded DNA breaks at 37°C than at 22°C, thus indicating a potential contributing mechanism for the in vivo effect of temperature on CRISPR/Cas9. This study reveals the importance of temperature in modulating SpCas9 activity in eukaryotes, and provides a simple method to increase on‐target mutagenesis in plants using CRISPR/Cas9.     

DnaQ exonuclease‐like domain of Cas2 promotes spacer integration in a type I‐E CRISPR‐Cas system

CRISPR‐Cas systems constitute an adaptive immune system that provides acquired resistance against phages and plasmids in prokaryotes. Upon invasion of foreign nucleic acids, some cells integrate short fragments of foreign DNA as spacers into the CRISPR locus to memorize the invaders and acquire resistance in the subsequent round of infection. This immunization step called adaptation is the least understood part of the CRISPR‐Cas immunity. We have focused here on the adaptation stage of Streptococcus thermophilus DGCC7710 type I‐E CRISPR4‐Cas (St4) system. Cas1 and Cas2 proteins conserved in nearly all CRISPR‐Cas systems are required for spacer acquisition. The St4 CRISPR‐Cas system is unique because the Cas2 protein is fused to an additional DnaQ exonuclease domain. Here, we demonstrate that St4 Cas1 and Cas2‐DnaQ form a multimeric complex, which is capable of integrating DNA duplexes with 3′‐overhangs (protospacers) in vitro. We further show that the DnaQ domain of Cas2 functions as a 3′–5′‐exonuclease that processes 3′‐overhangs of the protospacer to promote integration.     

用微卫星标记定位小麦T型CMS的恢复基因

以T型细胞质雄性不育系 75 336 9A×恢复系 72 6 9 10的F2 群体作为育性调查和基因定位群体。通过育性分析 ,确定该恢复系含有 2个主效恢复基因 ;结合群分法 ,对恢复基因进行了SSR分子标记定位 ,在 2 30对微卫星引物中 ,微卫星标记Xgwm136和Xgwm5 5 0分别与 2个主效恢复基因连锁。这两个标记与Rf基因之间的遗传距离分别为 6 7cM和 5 1cM ,从而将该恢复基因定位在 1AS、1BS染色体上。     

Genetics of fertility restoration in the C-group of cytoplasmic male sterility in maize

The genetics of fertility restoration of cms-C group cytoplasm of maize was studied using crosses involving stable maintainer lines and lines that restored full pollen fertility. Pollen fertility in the sources of cms-C sterile cytoplasms studied was restored by a single dominant restorer (Rf4) gene. The fertility restoration was sporophytic. Allelism tests among five restorer lines showed that they all apparently carried the same alleles (Rf4 Rf4). Similar tests also demonstrated that seven nonrestoring maintainer lines had apparently the same genotype (rf4 rf4), although a partial "late break" of fertility was observed at low levels in some maintainer crosses. Comparative studies among different cms-C sources (C, Bb, ES, PR and RB) indicated that similar inheritance of fertility restoration was involved. The data indicated that a single, dominant Rf gene is involved in the restoration of several C-group cytoplasms, at least in the lines studied here. This is the first single-gene, sporophytic restorer system described in maize to date.     

Characterization of cytoplasmic male sterility of rice with Lead Rice cytoplasm in comparison with that with Chinsurah Boro II cytoplasm

Rice with LD-type cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) possesses the cytoplasm of ‘Lead Rice’ and its fertility is recovered by a nuclear fertility restorer gene Rf1. Rf1 promotes processing of a CMS-associated mitochondrial RNA of atp6–orf79, which consists of atp6 and orf79, in BT-CMS with the cytoplasm of ‘Chinsurah Boro II’. In this study, we found that LD-cytoplasm contained a sequence variant of orf79 downstream of atp6. Northern blot analysis showed that atp6–orf79 RNA of LD-cytoplasm was co-transcribed and was processed in the presence of Rf1 in the same manner as in BT-cytoplasm. Western blot analysis showed that the ORF79 peptide did not accumulate in an LD-CMS line, while ORF79 accumulated in a BT-CMS line and was diminished by Rf1. These results suggest that accumulation of ORF79 is not the cause of CMS in LD-cytoplasm and the mechanism of male-sterility induction/fertility restoration in LD-CMS is different from that in BT-CMS.     

A biotechnology‐based male‐sterility system for hybrid seed production in tomato

Incorporating male sterility into hybrid seed production reduces its cost and ensures high varietal purity. Despite these advantages, male‐sterile lines have not been widely used to produce tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) hybrid seeds. We describe the development of a biotechnology‐based breeding platform that utilized genic male sterility to produce hybrid seeds. In this platform, we generated a novel male‐sterile tomato line by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9)‐mediated mutagenesis of a stamen‐specific gene SlSTR1 and devised a transgenic maintainer by transforming male‐sterile plants with a fertility‐restoration gene linked to a seedling‐colour gene. Offspring of crosses between a hemizygous maintainer and the homozygous male‐sterile plant segregated into 50% non‐transgenic male‐sterile plants and 50% male‐fertile maintainer plants, which could be easily distinguished by seedling colour. This system has great practical potential for hybrid seed breeding and production as it overcomes the problems intrinsic to other male‐sterility systems and can be easily adapted for a range of tomato cultivars and diverse vegetable crops.     

Molecular mapping and candidate gene identification of the Rf2 gene for pollen fertility restoration in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

The A1 cytoplasmic–nuclear male sterility system in sorghum is used almost exclusively for the production of commercial hybrid seed and thus, the dominant genes that restore male fertility in F₁ hybrids are of critical importance to commercial seed production. The genetics of fertility restoration in sorghum can appear complex, being controlled by at least two major genes with additional modifiers and additional gene–environment interaction. To elucidate the molecular processes controlling fertility restoration and to develop a marker screening system for this important trait, two sorghum recombinant inbred line populations were created by crossing a restorer and a non-restoring inbred line, with fertility phenotypes evaluated in hybrid combination with three unique cytoplasmic male sterile lines. In both populations, a single major gene segregated for restoration which was localized to chromosome SBI-02 at approximately 0.5 cM from microsatellite marker, Xtxp304. In the two populations we observed that approximately 85 and 87% of the phenotypic variation in seed set was associated with the major Rf gene on SBI-02. Some evidence for modifier genes was also observed since a continuum of partial restored fertility was exhibited by lines in both RIL populations. With the prior report (Klein et al. in Theor Appl Genet 111:994–1012, 2005) of the cloning of the major fertility restoration gene Rf1 in sorghum, the major fertility restorer locus identified in this study was designated Rf2. A fine-mapping population was used to resolve the Rf2 locus to a 236,219-bp region of chromosome SBI-02, which spanned ~31 predicted open reading frames including a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) gene family member. The PPR gene displayed high homology with rice Rf1. Progress towards the development of a marker-assisted screen for fertility restoration is discussed.     

An Agrobacterium‐delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system for high‐frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool in many organisms, including a number of monocots and dicots. Although the design and application of CRISPR/Cas9 is simpler compared to other nuclease‐based genome editing tools, optimization requires the consideration of the DNA delivery and tissue regeneration methods for a particular species to achieve accuracy and efficiency. Here, we describe a public sector system, ISU Maize CRISPR, utilizing Agrobacterium‐delivered CRISPR/Cas9 for high‐frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize. This system consists of an Escherichia coli cloning vector and an Agrobacterium binary vector. It can be used to clone up to four guide RNAs for single or multiplex gene targeting. We evaluated this system for its mutagenesis frequency and heritability using four maize genes in two duplicated pairs: Argonaute 18 (ZmAgo18a and ZmAgo18b) and dihydroflavonol 4‐reductase or anthocyaninless genes (a1 and a4). T₀ transgenic events carrying mono‐ or diallelic mutations of one locus and various combinations of allelic mutations of two loci occurred at rates over 70% mutants per transgenic events in both Hi‐II and B104 genotypes. Through genetic segregation, null segregants carrying only the desired mutant alleles without the CRISPR transgene could be generated in T₁ progeny. Inheritance of an active CRISPR/Cas9 transgene leads to additional target‐specific mutations in subsequent generations. Duplex infection of immature embryos by mixing two individual Agrobacterium strains harbouring different Cas9/gRNA modules can be performed for improved cost efficiency. Together, the findings demonstrate that the ISU Maize CRISPR platform is an effective and robust tool to targeted mutagenesis in maize.     

Mapping and Genetic Characterization of Loci Controlling the Restoration of Male Fertility in Ogura CMS Radish

Three Raphanus populations (BC1, F2 and R8) each segregating for the restoration of Ogura CMS were used tomap restorer loci. The three restorer loci, Rf1, Rf2 and Rf3, each exhibited dominant restoring alleles and wereeach mutually epistatic. Rf1 was mapped to the upper region of Rs1 using data from each population. Rf2 wasmapped to the middle of Rs2 using both the F2 and R8 populations. Rf3 was mapped to the upper region of Rs7using the R8 population. The marker analysis and linkage mapping of the BC1 and F2 populations were describedpreviously (Bett and Lydiate, 2003). Scoring at 114 marker loci in R8 population allowed a new map ofthe Raphanus genome to be integrated with the consensus map. The complex genetic control of the restoration ofOgura CMS in Raphanus is compared with the more simple genetic control of this trait previously described inB. napus. Markers linked to each of the three restorer loci will allow the routine generation and verification ofdefined restorer and maintainer lines for various combinations of defined restorer loci. Although the restorationof Ogura CMS in Raphanus probably involves additional loci, the identification of three loci and diagnosticmarkers for each provides a solid foundation for the development of a holistic model for the genetic control ofthis trait through mapping in additional populations.     

Molecular mapping of the fertility restorer gene for ms-CW-type cytoplasmic male sterility of rice

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was first reported using the cytoplasm of a Chinese wild rice, Oryza rufipogon Griff. strain W1. However, it was not possible to characterize this ms-CW-type CMS in more detail until a restorer line had been developed due to the lack of restorer genes among cultivars thus far tested. The breeding of a restorer line (W1-R) was eventually achieved by transferring the restorer gene(s) of W1 to a cultivar. We report here the characterization of the ms-CW pollen grains and mapping of the restorer gene for ms-CW-type CMS. Pollen grains of the male-sterile plants appeared to be normal and viable based on the fluorochromatic reaction test, but they did not germinate on normal stigmas. The 1:1 segregation of fertile and sterile plants in a BC₁F₁ population from a cross between W1-R and a maintainer line demonstrated that fertility restoration is controlled by a single gene. The fertile seed set of all the F₂ plants examined indicated that the fertility restoration functions gametophytically. We designated the fertility restorer gene Rfcw. Using cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, we localized Rfcw to chromosome 4 with a genetic distance of 0.6 cM from the nearest SSR marker.