Research Advances on Cytoplasmic Male Sterility and Restorer Genes in Maize

Abstract

As an important food and forage crops in China, corn plays a key role in guaranteeing food security, promoting social and economic development and providing industrial energy. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a common biological phenomenon in higher plants. CMS of maize can be divided into three types: T type, C type and S type. Sterility genes are derived from mitochondrial gene rearrangement to form chimeric genes. The newly formed chimeric genes harm the development of anther microspores and lead to abortion. The existence of restorer gene can eliminate the harm of sterility gene and make microspore grow normally. Since the sterility genes are mitochondrial genes and the restorer genes are nuclear genes, the study on the mechanism of cytoplasmic sterility and restorer is also a bridge to explore the relationship between cytoplasmic and nuclear interactions. At the same time, the utilization of male sterile lines is an important technical means for maize to utilize heterosis. The utilization of cytoplasmic male sterile lines in maize production is of great significance to the utilization of crop heterosis and seed production of hybrid seeds. It can not only liberate labor force and reduce seed production cost, but also improve seed production purity and increase yield. In this paper, the classification and characteristics of CMS in maize as well as the CMS genes and fertility restorer genes discovered in maize in recent years were summarized, and the problems and development prospects in the application of CMS in maize were discussed, which could provide references for the promotion and utilization of CMS in production.

Keywords

• maize
• cytoplasmic male sterility
• molecular mechanism
• sterile line
• restorer gene