Plant Genome I Conference
Town & Country Conference Center, San Diego, CA, November, 1992.
PG-I: 2pg1
MAPPING OF THE "RESTORATION OF FERTILITY" GENE FOR POL
CYTOPLASMIC MALE STERILITY IN CANOLA.
Martine Jean 1, Gregory G. Brown 1 and Benoit S. Landry 2,3.
1 Biology Department, McGill University, 1205 rue Docteur
Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, HA 1B1, 2 Agriculture
Canada, 430 boul. Gouin, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada,
J3B 3E6,3 IRBV, Montreal University, 4101 boul. Sherbrooke est,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, HIX 2B2.
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) can be useful in hybrid
seed production to prevent selfing. However, to be efficient
with mostly self-pollinating seed crops like canola (Brassica
napus L.), a CMS system must include "restoration of fertility"
(Rf) genes to allow the hybrids to set maximum seed yield.
Recently, we have undertaken studies for a map-based cloning of
the Rf gene for the pol CMS of B. napus. Restriction fragment
length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and random amplified polymorphic
DNAs (RAPDs) are found between parental lines. Nearly-isogenic
lines (NILs) and Pseudo-NILs (bulked segregants) are used to
target polymorphisms on the Rf locus. Co-segregation analysis of
selected RAPDs and RFLPs with the fertility trait in backcross
populations is then made to confirm linkage with the Rf gene.
Tightly linked-DNA markers could be used immediately as tools by
breeders for the marker-assisted transfer of this gene between
elite cultivars by researchers to study the effects of
environment on the maintenance of sterility, and would, of
course, give us a starting point towards a more precise
localization and identification of the gene. Recent progress in
the identification of RAPD markers linked to this Rf gene will be
presented.
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