Validation for the major fertility restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4 of F4 generation of CBSN 25/ WRM 21-24 and CBSN 25/ WRM 93-20 crosses in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The first step in developing high yielding heterotic hybrids is to find restorers that can effectively restore the fertility of CMS lines. Two distinct and dominant nuclear genes for restoring fertility, Rf3 and Rf4, are primarily in charge of the fertility restoration of CMS-WA lines in rice. Identifying fertility restorer lines can be accelerated and made simpler by molecular mapping of Rf3 and Rf4. The present investigation was carried out to validate the presence of two fertility restorer genes Rf3 and Rf4 in the F4 generations of two populations viz., CBSN 25/WRM 21-24 (86 families) and CBSN 25/WRM 93-20 (79 families) using seven SSR molecular markers. The results revealed that 17 plants in the cross CBSN 25/WRM 21-24 and 47 plants in CBSN 25/WRM 93-20 were found to be double positives for both Rf3 and Rf4 genes. Hence, after stabilization these identified plants from both crosses could be used as male parents or restorers in CMS-based hybrid rice breeding programs.

Keywords

• fertility restorer genes
• rf3 and rf4 genes
• cms-wa
• hybrid rice
• ssrs