Genetic dissection of hybrid incompatibilities between Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana. I. Differential accumulation of hybrid male sterility effects on the X and autosomes

The genetic basis of hybrid incompatibility in crosses between Drosophila mauritiana and D. simulans was investigated to gain insight into the evolutionary mechanisms of speciation. In this study, segments of the D. mauritiana third chromosome were introgressed into a D. simulans genetic background and tested as homozygotes for viability, male fertility, and female fertility. The entire third chromosome was covered with partially overlapping segments. Many segments were male sterile, while none were female sterile or lethal, confirming previous reports of the rapid evolution of hybrid male sterility (HMS). A statistical model was developed to quantify the HMS accumulation. In comparison with previous work on the X chromosome, we estimate that the X has approximately 2.5 times the density of HMS factors as the autosomes. We also estimate that the whole genome contains approximately 15 HMS "equivalents"-i.e., 15 times the minimum number of incompatibility factors necessary to cause complete sterility. Although some caveats for the quantitative estimate of a 2.5-fold density difference are described, this study supports the notion that the X chromosome plays a special role in the evolution of reproductive isolation. Possible mechanisms of a "large X" effect include selective fixation of new mutations that are recessive or partially recessive and the evolution of sex-ratio distortion systems.     

Electrophoretic analysis of a chromosomal hybrid zone in the grasshopper Podisma pedestris

We have made an extensive allozyme survey of 21 enzyme and protein loci in populations of the alpine grasshopper Podisma pedestris. This species occurs in two races, differing by a chromosomal fusion which separates the ancestral XO/XX race from a derived neo-XY race. These races also differ in DNA content, and hybrids between them have reduced viability. Electrophoresis reveals that the amount of genetic differentiation between these races is no greater than the variation among populations within each race. Both larger-scale surveys and a detailed survey of an area where the races hybridize, show that the chromosomal change is not correlated with gene frequency changes at any of the 21 loci studied. These findings are consistent with recently developed theory concerning the strength of the barrier to gene flow posed by a hybrid zone with characteristics such as those measured experimentally in Podisma. It is argued that hybrid zones in other species which involve allozymic differences do so because of stronger selection against hybrids rather than through mating isolation.     

Postzygotic incompatibilities between the pupfishes, Cyprinodon elegans and Cyprinodon variegatus: hybrid male sterility and sex ratio bias

I examined the intrinsic postzygotic incompatibilities between two pupfishes, Cyprinodon elegans and Cyprinodon variegatus. Laboratory hybridization experiments revealed evidence of strong postzygotic isolation. Male hybrids have very low fertility, and the survival of backcrosses into C. elegans was substantially reduced. In addition, several crosses produced female-biased sex ratios. Crosses involving C. elegans females and C. variegatus males produced only females, and in backcrosses involving hybrid females and C. elegans males, males made up approximately 25% of the offspring. All other crosses produced approximately 50% males. These sex ratios could be explained by genetic incompatibilities that occur, at least in part, on sex chromosomes. Thus, these results provide strong albeit indirect evidence that pupfish have XY chromosomal sex determination. The results of this study provide insight on the evolution of reproductive isolating mechanisms, particularly the role of Haldane's rule and the 'faster-male' theory in taxa lacking well-differentiated sex chromosomes.     

Genetic dissection of hybrid incompatibilities between Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana. II. Mapping hybrid male sterility loci on the third chromosome

Hybrid male sterility (HMS) is a rapidly evolving mechanism of reproductive isolation in Drosophila. Here we report a genetic analysis of HMS in third-chromosome segments of Drosophila mauritiana that were introgressed into a D. simulans background. Qualitative genetic mapping was used to localize 10 loci on 3R and a quantitative trait locus (QTL) procedure (multiple-interval mapping) was used to identify 19 loci on the entire chromosome. These genetic incompatibilities often show dominance and complex patterns of epistasis. Most of the HMS loci have relatively small effects and generally at least two or three of them are required to produce complete sterility. Only one small region of the third chromosome of D. mauritiana by itself causes a high level of infertility when introgressed into D. simulans. By comparison with previous studies of the X chromosome, we infer that HMS loci are only approximately 40% as dense on this autosome as they are on the X chromosome. These results are consistent with the gradual evolution of hybrid incompatibilities as a by-product of genetic divergence in allopatric populations.     

Genetic complexity underlying hybrid male sterility in Drosophila

Recent genetic analyses of closely related species of Drosophila have indicated that hybrid male sterility is the consequence of highly complex synergistic effects among multiple genes, both conspecific and heterospecific. On the contrary, much evidence suggests the presence of major genes causing hybrid female sterility and inviability in the less-related species, D. melanogaster and D. simulans. Does this contrast reflect the genetic distance between species? Or, generally, is the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility more complex than that of hybrid female sterility and inviability? To clarify this point, the D. simulans introgression of the cytological region 34D-36A to the D. melanogaster genome, which causes recessive male sterility, was dissected by recombination, deficiency, and complementation mapping. The 450-kb region between two genes, Suppressor of Hairless and snail, exhibited a strong effect on the sterility. Males are (semi-)sterile if this region of the introgression is made homozygous or hemizygous. But no genes in the region singly cause the sterility; this region has at least two genes, which in combination result in male sterility. Further, the males are less fertile when heterozygous with a larger introgression, which suggests that dominant modifiers enhance the effects of recessive genes of male sterility. Such an epistatic view, even in the less-related species, suggests that the genetic complexity is special to hybrid male sterility.     

Cytoplasmic male sterility in relation to hybrid wheat breeding

Summary The method of substitution and restoration of nucleus is briefly described.Three species, Aegilops caudata, Ae. ovata and Triticum timopheevi, were used as donors of male sterility cytoplasms.The characteristics of these three cytoplasms are summarized as follows:Caudata-cytoplasm: This cytoplasm has in many respects deleterious effects on the manifestation of alien genomes. Substitution lines having hexaploid wheat genome constitution are mostly male sterile while the female organ is normal. Some lines set frequently germless seeds. Haploid and twin seedlings are of common occurrence in other lines. Pistillody is common in the substitution lines with tetraploid wheat genomes.Ovata-cytoplasm: No pistillody was found in the substitution lines, both with hexaploid and tetraploid wheats. Male sterility is always complete in the substitution lines of hexaploid wheats with the exception of P 168, a variety of common wheat having a pair of satchromosomes of Ae. caudata. This variety restores male fertility completely. No effective restorers were found for the substitution lines of emmer wheat. Delayed heading is common in the 4x substitution lines.Timopheevi-cytoplasm: Substitution lines of 6x wheats are mostly male sterile, while those of 4x wheats are more or less male fertile. Only the genome of T. spelta duhamelianum restores completely pollen fertility.Among the indispensable factors for the success of hybrid wheat, five were discussed. They were (1) hetero sis, (2) selection of male sterile cytoplasms, (3) discovery of restoring genes, (4) production of hybrid seeds and (5) quality.

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Zusammenfassung Die Methode der Substitution und Restoration des Nucleus wird kurz beschrieben.Drei Arten, Aegilops caudata, Ae. ovata und Triticum timopheevi, wurden als Donor cytoplasmatisch bedingter männlicher Sterilität verwendet. Die Charakteristika der jeweiligen Cytoplasmen lassen sich wie folgt zusammenfassen:Caudata-Cytoplasma: Dieses Cytoplasma hat in vieler Hinsicht einen schädlichen Einfluß auf die Manifestation fremder Genome. Substitutionslinien mit einem hexaploiden Weizengenom sind meist männlich steril, das weibliche Organ ist normal. Einige Linien bringen häufig keimlose Samen; in anderen Linien treten haploide und Zwillingssamen auf. Bei Substitutionslinien mit tetraploiden Weizengenomen werden häufig andere Blütenorgane in Karpelle umgewandelt.Ovata-Cytoplasma: In den Substitutionslinien sowohl der hexaploiden wie tetraploiden Weizen wurden keine anderen Blütenorgane in Karpelle umgewandelt. Die Substitutionslinien der hexaploiden Weizen sind stets vollkommen männlich steril mit Ausnahme von P 168, einer Weizenvarietät, die ein Paar Sat-Chromosomen von Ae. caudata besitzt. Diese Varietät stellt die männliche Fertilität vollkommen wieder her. In den Emmer-Substitutionslinien wurden keine wirksamen Restorer gefunden. Bei den 4x-Substitutionslinien zeigt sich häufig verzögertes Ährenschieben.Timopheevi-Cytoplasma: Die Substitutionslinien der 6x-Weizen sind meist männlich steril, die von 4x-Weizen dagegen mehr oder weniger männlich fertil. Nur das Genom von T. spelta duhamelianum stellt die Pollenfertilität völlig wieder her.Von den für den Erfolg der Hybridweizenzüchtung unabdingbaren Faktoren wurden die folgenden 5 besprochen: 1. Heterosis, 2. Selektion männliche Sterilität bedingender Cytoplasmen, 3. Auffinden von Restorergenen, 4. Produktion von Hybridsaatgut und 5. Qualität.

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Dedicated to Professor Hans Stubbe on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.

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Contribution from the National Institute of Genetics, Japan, No. 636. This paper has been prepared for a lecture delivered July 18, 1966, at the Lenin All-Union Academy of Agricultural Science. This work has been supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, Grant GA AGR 65111.     

Genetics and evolution of hybrid male sterility in house mice

Comparative genetic mapping provides insights into the evolution of the reproductive barriers that separate closely related species. This approach has been used to document the accumulation of reproductive incompatibilities over time, but has only been applied to a few taxa. House mice offer a powerful system to reconstruct the evolution of reproductive isolation between multiple subspecies pairs. However, studies of the primary reproductive barrier in house mice-hybrid male sterility-have been restricted to a single subspecies pair: Mus musculus musculus and Mus musculus domesticus. To provide a more complete characterization of reproductive isolation in house mice, we conducted an F(2) intercross between wild-derived inbred strains from Mus musculus castaneus and M. m. domesticus. We identified autosomal and X-linked QTL associated with a range of hybrid male sterility phenotypes, including testis weight, sperm density, and sperm morphology. The pseudoautosomal region (PAR) was strongly associated with hybrid sterility phenotypes when heterozygous. We compared QTL found in this cross with QTL identified in a previous F(2) intercross between M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus and found three shared autosomal QTL. Most QTL were not shared, demonstrating that the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility largely differs between these closely related subspecies pairs. These results lay the groundwork for identifying genes responsible for the early stages of speciation in house mice.     

Chromosomal differentiation through an Alpine hybrid zone in the grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus

The grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus is genetically differentiated over its range into at least five major geographical subdivisions. Two of these subdivisions, designated as subspecies, meet and form a hybrid zone in the Pyrenees. These subspecies differ for a wide range of morphological, behavioural and chromosomal characters, which vary clinally across the zone. A further geographical subdivision exists within Italy. Here we present the first evidence for chromosomal divergence between populations of the grasshopper north and south of the Alps. Across two Alpine cols (Col de Larche, between France and Italy; Passo de Resia, between Austria and Italy), these populations differ in both structural and functional components of the X-chromosome. Northern Alpine individuals possess an active nucleolar organizing region (NOR) at the distal end of the X-chromosome and an associated region of heterochromatin (C-band). Both these features are absent from individuals from the south of the Alps. However, all individuals examined carry distally located rDNA on the X-chromosome. Clinal transition was examined in the distal C-band in transects through the two cols. The cline centres are roughly coincident with the tops of the cols. Both clines were of similar widths (Col de Larche, 21.88 km; Passo de Resia, 24.05 km), and therefore much wider than those for an X-linked distal C-band in the Pyrenean hybrid zone. This suggests that there are different selective pressures on the cytogenetic characters in the Alps. The results are discussed in the context of the historical population dynamics of the species in relation to the climatic changes associated with the Pleistocene ice ages.     

A simple genetic incompatibility causes hybrid male sterility in mimulus

Much evidence has shown that postzygotic reproductive isolation (hybrid inviability or sterility) evolves by the accumulation of interlocus incompatibilities between diverging populations. Although in theory only a single pair of incompatible loci is needed to isolate species, empirical work in Drosophila has revealed that hybrid fertility problems often are highly polygenic and complex. In this article we investigate the genetic basis of hybrid sterility between two closely related species of monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus and M. nasutus. In striking contrast to Drosophila systems, we demonstrate that nearly complete hybrid male sterility in Mimulus results from a simple genetic incompatibility between a single pair of heterospecific loci. We have genetically mapped this sterility effect: the M. guttatus allele at the hybrid male sterility 1 (hms1) locus acts dominantly in combination with recessive M. nasutus alleles at the hybrid male sterility 2 (hms2) locus to cause nearly complete hybrid male sterility. In a preliminary screen to find additional small-effect male sterility factors, we identified one additional locus that also contributes to some of the variation in hybrid male fertility. Interestingly, hms1 and hms2 also cause a significant reduction in hybrid female fertility, suggesting that sex-specific hybrid defects might share a common genetic basis. This possibility is supported by our discovery that recombination is reduced dramatically in a cross involving a parent with the hms1-hms2 incompatibility.     

转基因雄性不育系及其在杂种种子生产上的应用

雄性不育为农作物杂种优势的利用开辟了一条经济有效的途径。本综述了利用生物技术培育转基因雄性不育的多种策略,以及繁育用作大田配制杂交种的母本雄性不育系的新方法;探讨了其应用于商业化杂种生产的重要性及前景。     

ms17: a meiotic mutation causing partial male sterility in a corn silage hybrid

Cytological analysis under light microscopy of the single hybrid P30R50 of silage corn revealed an abnormal pattern of microsporogenesis that affected the meiotic products. Meiosis progressed normally until diakinesis, but before migration to the metaphase plate, bivalents underwent total desynapsis and 20 univalent chromosomes were scattered in the cytoplasm. At this stage, meiocytes also exhibited a number of chromatin-like fragments scattered throughout the cell. Metaphase I was completely abnormal in the affected cells, and univalent chromosomes and fragments were distributed among several curved spindles. Anaphase I did not occur, and each chromosome or group of chromosomes originated a micronucleus. After this phase, an irregular cytokinesis occurred, and secondary meiocytes with several micronuclei were observed. Metaphase II and anaphase II also did not occur, and after the second cytokinesis, the genomes were fractionated into polyads, generating several unbalanced microspores, with various-sized nuclei. About 35% of the tetrads were abnormal in the hybrid. This spontaneous mutation had been previously reported in a USA maize line called ms17 and was found to cause male sterility.     

A comparison of chromosomal and allozymal variation across a narrow hybrid zone in the grasshopper Caledia captiva

A hybrid zone between the Moreton and Torresian taxa of the grasshopper Caledia captiva in S.E. Queensland has been characterised in terms of allozyme and chromosome variation within the same individuals. — On chromosomal criteria (pericentric rearrangements), the zone is asymmetrical with evidence of high levels of introgression of Torresian chromosomes into the Moreton taxon. This is apparent from the analysis of two independent transects across the hybrid zone. Major changes in chromosomal frequency occur over distances of less than 0.5 km. and the level of introgression differs between the two transects, with much higher levels in the northern Moreton populations, characterised by an acrocentric X-chromosome, when compared with the southern metacentric-X Moreton populations. Chromosome analysis of samples taken from the same transect over two years has revealed no major changes in the structure of the zone. Moreover, a Moreton population located only 0.5 km. from the null point was found to be stable over 6 generations with evidence for a new balanced genome having originated following the differential incorportation of Torresian chromosomes. — Contrary to the chromosomal situation, the same hybrid zone was found to be symmetrical with respect to allozyme variation with evidence of movement of diagnostic alleles in both directions across the zone. The alleles are independent and not tightly linked to any of the pericentric rearrangements. Thus these 5 alleles are acting as markers of the background genome and reveal the relatively free movement of genes which are located outside the pericentric rearrangements. — It is proposed that the hybrid zone in Caledia captiva is unstable and is moving slowly in a westerly direction into the Torresian territory. This is due to the ability of the Moreton taxon to incorporate more readily into its genome those Torresian chromosomes or chromosome segments which increase the fitness of the Moreton taxon. On chromosomal criteria, the Torresian taxon does not share the same capacity. — It is suggested that, so long as the two taxa retain their ability to hybridise with subsequent asymmetrical introgression, the zone will continue to move westwards and eventually lead to the selective incorporation of the Torresian genome into the Moreton taxon. This will result in a polymorphic situation with clinal variation in chromosomal frequencies. The structure of the zone is dependent upon a fine balance between genomic reorganisation in recombinant genotypes and the relative dispersal capacities of the two hybridising taxa.     

The effects of cytoplasmic male sterility on cytonuclear disequilibria in hybrid zones

Male sterility is studied in hybrid zones by different measures of cytonuclear disequilibria, D, D₁, D₂, and D₃. Of particular interest are the dynamics of disequilibria as the system evolves to equilibrium. Our first model, the hybrid swarm model, yields equilibrium results identical to those observed in a model with random mating. In our second model of a hybrid zone, predictions of the sign pattern of disequilibrium values can be made based on migration values. A characteristic sign pattern may help to distinguish cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) from other mechanisms of selection. Our simple CMS model with migration is successfully fit to cytonuclear data on a hybrid population of cottonwoods.     

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in hybrid breeding in field crops

Key message

A comprehensive understanding of CMS/Rf system enabled by modern omics tools and technologies considerably improves our ability to harness hybrid technology for enhancing the productivity of field crops.

Abstract

Harnessing hybrid vigor or heterosis is a promising approach to tackle the current challenge of sustaining enhanced yield gains of field crops. In the context, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) owing to its heritable nature to manifest non-functional male gametophyte remains a cost-effective system to promote efficient hybrid seed production. The phenomenon of CMS stems from a complex interplay between maternally-inherited (mitochondrion) and bi-parental (nucleus) genomic elements. In recent years, attempts aimed to comprehend the sterility-inducing factors (orfs) and corresponding fertility determinants (Rf) in plants have greatly increased our access to candidate genomic segments and the cloned genes. To this end, novel insights obtained by applying state-of-the-art omics platforms have substantially enriched our understanding of cytoplasmic-nuclear communication. Concomitantly, molecular tools including DNA markers have been implicated in crop hybrid breeding in order to greatly expedite the progress. Here, we review the status of diverse sterility-inducing cytoplasms and associated Rf factors reported across different field crops along with exploring opportunities for integrating modern omics tools with CMS-based hybrid breeding.

     

Asymmetries in male aggression across an avian hybrid zone

Recent studies suggest that competitive asymmetries are causingthe hybrid zones between hermit and Townsend's warblers to move,such that Townsend's warblers are replacing hermit warblers.Here we examine the contribution of male aggression to thiscompetitive asymmetry by measuring aggressive responses to mounts.We presented male mounts of the two parental species to Townsend'sand hermit warblers outside the zone and to hybrids within the zone.Outside the zone, Townsend's males are more aggressive to both conspecificand heterospecific mounts than are hermit males. This asymmetry shouldmove the zone in the direction inferred from previous studies.Hybrids fall between parentals in their aggressiveness, whichshould accelerate the movement of the zone. Remarkably, we foundno relationship between phenotype and aggression in individualmales at a locality within the hybrid zone. The forces of selectionand dispersal that maintain narrow hybrid zones should generatesuch a correlation if aggressive differences between the parental speciesare genetically controlled. We resolve this conflict by proposinga behavioral model of competitive sorting within localities.If birds are sorted across the hybrid zone according to competitiveabilities, and competitive interactions within neighborhoodsare more or less complete, then the correlation between phenotypeand aggression within any given neighborhood will be eliminated.We tested this model by examining the relationship between phenotypeand aggression across the zone. Warblers in hybrid neighborhoodson the Townsend's side of the zone are more aggressive thanwarblers in hybrid neighborhoods on the hermit side, indicatingthat competitive sorting is occurring.     

Genetic interactions underlying hybrid male sterility in the Drosophila bipectinata species complex

Understanding genetic mechanisms underlying hybrid male sterility is one of the most challenging problems in evolutionary biology especially speciation. By using the interspecific hybridization method roles of Y chromosome, Major Hybrid Sterility (MHS) genes and cytoplasm in sterility of hybrid males have been investigated in a promising group, the Drosophila bipectinata species complex that consists of four closely related species: D. pseudoananassae, D. bipectinata, D. parabipectinata and D. malerkotliana. The interspecific introgression analyses show that neither cytoplasm nor MHS genes are involved but X-Y interactions may be playing major role in hybrid male sterility between D. pseudoananassae and the other three species. The results of interspecific introgression analyses also show considerable decrease in the number of males in the backcross offspring and all males have atrophied testes. There is a significant positive correlation between sex - ratio distortion and severity of sterility in backcross males. These findings provide evidence that D. pseudoananassae is remotely related with other three species of the D. bipectinata species complex.     

Disruptive selection on female reproductive characters in a hybrid zone of Littorina saxatilis

We studied natural selection in a hybrid zone of the intertidal marine snail Littorina saxatilis located in Galicia (NW Spain) by measuring the number and average size of the embryos carried by females. We related these characters with the females' position on the phenotypic and environmental gradients between the two pure morphs of the hybrid zone. In contrast with previous interpretations of studies made in this hybrid zone, we found a depression in both embryo number and size for phenotypically intermediate females. This disruptive natural selection could play an important role in the maintenance of the population's bimodal phenotypic distribution and in that of the assortative mating between the pure morphs. We found also that intermediate environments tended to be unfavorable for all phenotypes. Although the precise causes for the found depression in female reproductive characters remain to be determined, these results serve to emphasize the importance of studying whole fitness surfaces in hybrid zones, across the complete phenotypic and environmental ranges, instead of merely comparing the fitness averages of the two pure morphs and the intermediate individuals, taken as three discrete phenotypic classes.     

The contribution of the y chromosome to hybrid male sterility in house mice

Hybrid sterility in the heterogametic sex is a common feature of speciation in animals. In house mice, the contribution of the Mus musculus musculus X chromosome to hybrid male sterility is large. It is not known, however, whether F(1) male sterility is caused by X-Y or X-autosome incompatibilities or a combination of both. We investigated the contribution of the M. musculus domesticus Y chromosome to hybrid male sterility in a cross between wild-derived strains in which males with a M. m. musculus X chromosome and M. m. domesticus Y chromosome are partially sterile, while males from the reciprocal cross are reproductively normal. We used eight X introgression lines to combine different X chromosome genotypes with different Y chromosomes on an F(1) autosomal background, and we measured a suite of male reproductive traits. Reproductive deficits were observed in most F(1) males, regardless of Y chromosome genotype. Nonetheless, we found evidence for a negative interaction between the M. m. domesticus Y and an interval on the M. m. musculus X that resulted in abnormal sperm morphology. Therefore, although F(1) male sterility appears to be caused mainly by X-autosome incompatibilities, X-Y incompatibilities contribute to some aspects of sterility.