[Molecular mapping of the S-a locus for F1 pollen sterility in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.)]

Abstract

F1 pollen sterility in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) was found to be caused by at least six loci of F1 pollen sterility genes. At the S-a locus, one of the six loci for F1 pollen sterility, the allelic interaction of S-ai and S-aj causes the male gametes carrying S-aj allele abortive. To map the S-a locus, Taichung 65(T65), a Keng (japonica) variety with S-aj/S-aj, its isogenic F1 sterile line TISL4 with S-ai/S-ai from Chin-tsao, a Hsien (indica) variety, and the F2 population from cross T65 x TISL4 were used as materials. The polymorphism between T65 and TISL4 detected by RFLP and RAPD analysis was less than 1%. This result indicated that short segments from Chin-tsao were introgressed into the isogenic F1 sterile line, since the TISL4 was developed by repeatedly backcrossing for thirteen times. By linkage analysis of S-a and the marker loci, the S-a locus was mapped on chromosome 1. The genetic distances between S-a and RFLP markers CDO548 and RG146 are 6.4 cM and 7.2 cM respectively, and those between S-a and RAPD markers O11-1000 and Y13-500 are 6.8 cM and 11.2 cM respectively. The mapping of the S-a locus is an important step towards marker-aided selection for overcoming the hybrid sterility in rice.