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Distribution pattern of cytoplasm and restoration of male fertility (Ms) locus in short-day tropical Indian onion populations

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Abstract

Cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) is the primary source for the production of commercially viable onion F1 hybrids. The molecular interplay of the cytoplasmic-nuclear genes propels the restoration of fertility in the CMS system, making it cost-effective and stable. The use of the molecular markers that can determine the cytoplasm type and nuclear genotype reduces the amount of time and labour required. This study characterized the morphology of male sterile and fertile plants based on anther colour and pollen viability. Additionally, the molecular characterization of the organellar DNA differentiating cytoplasm and nuclear genotypes in 35 commercially grown open-pollinated varieties of Indian short-day onion was attempted. Our results revealed that morphological and microscopic observations for the identification of male sterile and fertile plants were not 100% corroborative. Markers located in the chloroplast (accD) and mitochondrial DNA (MKFR) revealed that Indian cultivars exhibited a greater frequency of N (normal) cytoplasm, lower frequency of S (sterile) cytoplasm and no occurrence of T (sterile) cytoplasm. All three markers viz., AcPMS1, AcSKP1, and jnurf13 revealed that 93 to 99% of the plants of all the varieties had homozygous recessive (msms) alleles at the Ms locus. The OPT marker classified the plants as having 38% msms, 39% Msms and 21% MsMs genotypes and needs further investigation. This underscores the pressing need for additional markers to precisely discern the Ms locus, facilitating the identification of male sterile and maintainer plants within open-pollinated populations of Indian short-day onions. Notably, male sterile cytoplasm was identified in eight commercial varieties, marking a pioneering revelation in Indian onion cultivation.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by a research grant awarded under the Core Research Grant-Science and Engineering Research Board (CRG-SERB) Scheme, Government of India (CRG/2019/006525) awarded to the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, Delhi, 110012, India

    Hira Singh, Masochon Zimik, Manisha Mangal, Shrawan Singh & Anil Khar

  2. ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, Delhi, 110012, India

    Kishore Gaikwad

  3. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistical Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, 110012, India

    A. R. Rao

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  1. Hira Singh
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  2. Masochon Zimik
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  5. Shrawan Singh
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  6. A. R. Rao
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Contributions

HS was responsible for the layout of the trial, field work, data collection and writing of the first draft. Dr MZ was responsible for DNA isolation, marker validation and molecular analysis. Dr MM, KG, SS contributed to the formulation and guidance of the research and manuscript editing. Dr AK is the supervisor of this research paper, and he contributed to the development of the concept, guided the research, wrote and edited the manuscript critically for publication. Finally, all the authors contributed to the final approval of the version to be published. Hence, before submission for publication, all the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Anil Khar.

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Singh, H., Zimik, M., Mangal, M. et al. Distribution pattern of cytoplasm and restoration of male fertility (Ms) locus in short-day tropical Indian onion populations. Euphytica 220, 70 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-024-03334-1

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