A cytoplasmic male sterility-associated mitochondrial protein causes pollen disruption in transgenic tobacco.

In higher plants, dominant mitochondrial mutations are associated with pollen sterility. This phenomenon is known as cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). It is thought that the disruption in pollen development is a consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction. To provide definitive evidence that expression of an abnormal mitochondrial gene can interrupt pollen development, a CMS-associated mitochondrial DNA sequence from common bean, orf239, was introduced into the tobacco nuclear genome. Several transformants containing the orf239 gene constructs, with or without a mitochondrial targeting sequence, exhibited a semi sterile or male-sterile phenotype. Expression of the gene fusions in transformed anthers was confirmed using RNA gel blotting, ELISA, and light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Immunocytological analysis showed that the ORF239 protein could associate with the cell wall of aberrant developing microspores. This pattern of extracellular localization was earlier observed in the CMS common bean line containing orf239 in the mitochondrial genome. Results presented here demonstrate that ORF239 causes pollen disruption in transgenic tobacco plants and may do so without targeting of the protein to the mitochondrion.

Cell type-specific loss of atp6 RNA editing in cytoplasmic male sterile Sorghum bicolor

RNA editing and cytoplasmic male sterility are two important phenomena in higher plant mitochondria. To determine whether correlations might exist between the two, RNA editing in different tissues of Sorghum bicolor was compared employing reverse transcription–PCR and subsequent sequence analysis. In etiolated shoots, RNA editing of transcripts of plant mitochondrial atp6, atp9, nad3, nad4, and rps12 genes was identical among fertile or cytoplasmic male sterile plants. We then established a protocol for mitochondrial RNA isolation from plant anthers and pollen to include in these studies. Whereas RNA editing of atp9, nad3, nad4, and rps12 transcripts in anthers was similar to etiolated shoots, mitochondrial atp6 RNA editing was strongly reduced in anthers of the A3Tx398 male sterile line of S. bicolor. atp6 transcripts of wheat and selected plastid transcripts in S. bicolor showed normal RNA editing, indicating that loss of atp6 RNA editing is specific for cytoplasmic male sterility S. bicolor mitochondria. Restoration of fertility in F1 and F2 lines correlated with an increase in RNA editing of atp6 transcripts. Our data suggest that loss of atp6 RNA editing contributes to or causes cytoplasmic male sterility in S. bicolor. Further analysis of the mechanism of cell type-specific loss of atp6 RNA editing activity may advance our understanding of the mechanism of RNA editing.

Epistasis among Drosophila persimilis factors conferring hybrid male sterility with D. pseudoobscura bogotana.

The Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller model posits that hybrid incompatibilities result from genetic changes that accumulate during population divergence. Indeed, much effort in recent years has been devoted to identifying genes associated with hybrid incompatibilities, often with limited success, suggesting that hybrid sterility and inviability are frequently caused by complex interactions between multiple loci and not by single or a small number of gene pairs. Our previous study showed that the nature of epistasis between sterility-conferring QTL in the Drosophila persimilis-D. pseudoobscura bogotana species pair is highly specific. Here, we further dissect one of the three QTL underlying hybrid male sterility between these species and provide evidence for multiple factors within this QTL. This result indicates that the number of loci thought to contribute to hybrid dysfunction may have been underestimated, and we discuss how linkage and complex epistasis may be characteristic of the genetics of hybrid incompatibilities. We further pinpoint the location of one locus that confers hybrid male sterility when homozygous, dubbed "mule-like", to roughly 250 kilobases.

Evaluation of the courtship and of the hybrid male sterility among Drosophila buzzatii cluster species (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Understanding male sterility in Miconia species (Melastomataceae): a morphological approach

Pollen abortion occurs in virtually all species and often does not prejudice reproductive success. However, large numbers of abnormal pollen grains are characteristic of some groups. Among them is Miconia, in which partial and complete male sterility is often related to apomixis. In this study, we compared the morphology of pollen grains over several developmental stages in Miconia species with different rates of male sterility. Our aim was to improve the knowledge of mechanisms that lead to male sterility in this ecologically important tropical group. Routine techniques for microscopy were used to examine anthers in several developmental stages collected from the apomictic species Miconia albicans and M. stenostachya. Both species are completely male sterile since even the pollen grains with apparently normal cytoplasm were not able to develop a pollen tube. Meiosis is a rare event in M. albicans anthers and happens in an irregular way in M. stenostachya, leading to the pollen abortion. M. albicans has more severe abnormalities than M. stenostachya since even the microspores and pollen grain walls were affected. Moreover, in M. stenostachya, most mitosis occurring during microgametogenesis was also abnormal, leading to the formation of bicellular pollen grains with two similar cells, in addition to the formation of pollen grains of different sizes. Notably, abnormalities in both species did not reach the production of Ubisch bodies, suggesting little or no tapetum involvement in male sterility in these two species.

Induction of male sterility in plants by metabolic engineering of the carbohydrate supply

Extracellular invertase mediates phloem unloading via an apoplastic pathway. The gene encoding isoenzyme Nin88 from tobacco was cloned and shown to be characterized by a specific spatial and temporal expression pattern. Tissue-specific antisense repression of Nin88 under control of the corresponding promoter in tobacco results in a block during early stages of pollen development, thus, causing male sterility. This result demonstrates a critical role of extracellular invertase in pollen development and strongly supports the essential function of extracellular sucrose cleavage for supplying carbohydrates to sink tissues via the apoplast. The specific interference with phloem unloading, the sugar status, and metabolic signaling during pollen formation will be a potentially valuable approach to induce male sterility in various crop species for hybrid seed production.

采用AFLP分子标记和分子生物学方法对资源植物的评价

中国资源植物丰富，蕴藏着优异的基因资源，开发和利用这些优异资源是植物学研究的重要课题。本文面向国家重大需求选择两种资源植物一羊草(Leymuschinensis (Trin.)Tzvel)和向日葵(llelia thus annuus L．)，采用分子标记技术和分子生物学方法对其进行评价和研究，以期为资源利用提供依据。由于两种植物本身的差别和采用的研究方法各异，故分别论述。 羊草，隶属禾本科赖草属，是欧亚大陆草原区东部重要建群种之一。羊草是牧草之王，是我国比较有优势的战略性生物资源，对我国北方畜牧业的发展以及生态环境的保育均具有重要意义。近年来，由于缺乏科学管理、过度放牧等不利影响，加之羊草本身固有的“三低”问题（即抽穗率低、结实率低、发芽率低）已对羊草生物多样性维持构成了严重的威胁，限制了我国人工草地建设和天然草地的改良及沙化治理的步伐。因此，如何通过形态调查结合生物技术手段评价羊草遗传多样性为建立核心种质及改良羊草、快速评价和创造新的种质、如何加快育种进程便成为当前亟待解决的问题。本文围绕这些问题开展了系统的研究并取得如下结果： 1． 对羊草的形态调查和AFLP分析，表明羊草是一种形态变异较大但是遗传变 异较小的物种。两种生态型的表现显著差异，其中灰绿生态型羊草比黄绿生 态型差异大。羊草遗传多样性与包括长期的栽培驯化、地理分布有很大的相 关性，地理来源相同的几乎全部聚到了一组。 2． 通过主成分分析和通径分析，简化了羊草31个性状分析的复杂性，了解到 羊草无性繁殖受好的营养生长促进。 3． AFLP分子标记技术在分析羊草遗传多样性方面有显著优势，尤其是对于羊 草这样多态性不高的物种是一种非常有效的分析工具。在分析AFLP数据时 采用聚类分析和主坐标分析相结合的方法，既兼顾了亲缘关系较近的种质之 间的关系调查也兼顾了亲缘关系较远的种质之间的关系调查。 4．羊草AFLP反应，不同引物所获得的总带数和多态性带数差别明显。羊草基因 组对3’端有选择性碱基TN的所有EcoRJ选择性引物扩增效果很差，前人 的有关赖草属的遗传研究也支持这一结果。 向日葵(n=17)，属于菊科( Compositae)向日葵属(Helia thus)，向日葵的研究重要领域是向日葵杂种生产，而细胞质雄性不育系的使用是杂种优势育种的核心。全世界90%以上的向日葵杂交种生产仍然在使用同一个细胞质类型PETI，玉米遗传单一给生产带来的毁灭性打击仍然令研究者和生产者记忆犹新，因此寻找更多的细胞质类型仍然是研究者的重要任务。本研究围绕一个新的不育源(G20023)的发现及鉴定，通过使用不育的G20023的保持系、恢复系、恢复的Fi代、回交一代之间比较以及与属于PETI细胞质类型的不育系的相应材料进行比较，找出与这一新的细胞质类型不育表型有关的可能差异序列，来探讨其不育机制，得到如下结果： 1、 通过田间杂交试验，证明G20023的保持系有很多（已证实有24份）， 目前找到的恢复系只有一个，H.maximiliani。G20023不育源作为一 种新的细胞质类型可以成为将来杂交育种的候选资源。同时，我们找 到一些表型证据，除了无花粉之外，G20023与PETI表型的典型不同 之处还在于前者的花药上下均为分离状态，而后者花药的基部联合， 顶部分离。显然，不同的细胞质类型在解剖结构上可能表现不尽相同。 2、 与线粒体基因组特异基因的核酸序列比较，结果表明，G20023线粒体 基因组上没有orfH522序列，与PETI表现出差异;此外，在基因atp6 位点也与PETI不同，而且在该位点也与同属向日葵ANTI不相同。同 时由于orf873并没有出现在ANTI中而出现在G20023中，因此我们可 以认为G20023这一个新的不育系是与ANTI和PETI不同的细胞质类 型。 3、 在参考常规线粒体DNA提取方法的基础上，我们做了很多改进，建立 了自己的向日葵线粒体DNA提取方法。该方法更快更简单，提取的线 粒体DNA完全可以用于酶切和杂交。 4、 G20023不育源由于其稳定的不育性状，可以作为培育无花粉彩色向日 葵杂交种的亲本材料，我们通过此不育源选育适当花色的无花粉观赏 向日葵生产杂交种。

与烟草细胞质雄性不育相关的线粒体基因atp9的mRNA研究

下载PDF阅读器已知导入未编辑atp9 mRNA的烟草表现细胞质雄性不育(CMS),因此认为线粒体基因atp9是引起高等植物CMS的主要基因.为了解atp9在CMS中的作用机制,从3对烟草不育系及其同型保持系中提取atp9,利用实验与理论结合来分析其mRNA在编辑前后以及在不育系及其同型保持系中的一维、三维信息差别.结果表明,atp9 mRNA一维信息方面的差异,更重要的是二级结构的差异和稳定性,可能是影响ATP合成而导致CMS的根本原因.

Androesterilidad genético citoplasmática en sorgo : empleo de los citoplasmas A2 yA3

p.117-122

Genotipagem de polimorfismos associados com sistemas de macho-esterilidade em acessos de cebola adaptados ao Brasil

A produção em escala comercial de sementes híbridas de cebola (Allium cepa) tem sido conduzida com o emprego de dois sistemas de macho-esterilidade do tipo genética-citoplasmática (CMS-S e CMS-T) em associação ao citoplasma normal (macho-fértil). No entanto, a análise molecular desses diferentes tipos citoplasmáticos ainda não está disponível para um grande número de acessos de cebola adaptados para cultivo em regiões tropicais. Além de adaptação às condições edafoclimáticas do Brasil, muitos desses acessos apresentam tolerância a doenças, sendo de potencial valor como genitores de híbridos. O presente trabalho visou identificar os tipos citoplasmáticos de acessos de cebola de diferentes grupos morfoagronômicos de interesse para o melhoramento genético no Brasil, usando a reação da polimerase em cadeia (PCR) com 'primers' específicos para regiões polimórficas do genoma mitocondrial de cebola. Foi observada, nos 66 acessos amostrados, a presença dos três principais tipos de citoplasma descritos para cebola (S, N e T). Foi constatada maior frequência do citoplasma S (56%) seguido do citoplasma T (25,8%). Em 18,2% das amostras, foi encontrado exclusivamente o citoplasma N. Essa caracterização pode ser útil para guiar a escolha de materiais genéticos dentro dos programas de melhoramento com objetivo de desenvolver cultivares híbridas adaptadas às condições tropicais.

Genetic variation for carbon isotope discrimination in sunflower: Association with transpiration efficiency and evidence for cytoplasmic inheritance

Plants accumulate isotopes of carbon at different rates because of discrimination against C-13 relative to C-12. In plants that fix carbon by the C-3 pathway, the amount of discrimination correlates negatively with transpiration efficiency (TE) where TE is the amount of dry matter accumulated per unit water transpired. Therefore, carbon isotope discrimination (Delta) has become a useful tool for selecting genotypes with improved TE and performance in dry environments. Surveys of 161 sunflower (Helianthus spp.) genotypes of diverse origin revealed a large and unprecedented range of genetic variation for Delta (19.5-23.8parts per thousand). A strong negative genetic correlation (r(g)) between TE and Delta (r(g) = -0.87, P < 0.001) was observed in glasshouse studies. Gas exchange measurements of field grown plants indicated that Delta was strongly correlated with stomatal conductance to water vapor (g), (r(g) 0.64, P < 0.01), and the ratio of net assimilation rate (A) to g, (r(g) = 0.86, P < 0.001), an instantaneous measure of TE. Genotype CMSHA89MAX1 had the lowest TE (and highest Delta) of all genotypes tested in these studies and low yields in hybrid combination. Backcrossing studies showed that the TE of this genotype was due to an adverse effect of the MAX1 cytoplasm, which was inherited from the diploid perennial H. maximiliani Schrader. Overall, these studies suggested that there is an excellent opportunity for breeders to develop sunflower germplasm with improved TE. This can be achieved, in part, by avoiding cytoplasms such as the MAX1 cytoplasm.