Differential Expression of Restorer Gene on Different Nuclear Background with Maldandi cytoplasm in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

To investigate the expression of restorer gene on different nuclear background an experiment was carried out using six iso-plasmic male sterile lines with maldandi cytoplasm, and each having different nuclear background. These lines were hybridized with a strong and stable restorer to generate six iso-plasmic hybrids at Main Agricultural Research Station (MARS), UAS Dharwad during rabi -2020-21. These hybrids were then evaluated for pollen fertility and seed set percentage during rabi -2021-22. The results found that, pollen fertility percentage of six iso-plasmic hybrids ranged from 69.82 per cent for ICSA 88004 A4 (M) × DSMR 8 to 92.42 per cent for M31-2A (M) × DSMR 8. Similarly, for seed set percentage M31-2A (M) × DSMR 8 and ICSA 88004 A4 (M) × DSMR 8 exhibited highest (85.17 per cent) and lowest (61.19 per cent), respectively. All the six iso-plasmic hybrids had varied expression for pollen fertility and seed set percentage which suggests that the restorer gene expressed differentially in different nuclear genome of female parent. The probable reasons for variation in fertility restoration behaviour are, abundance of inhibitors in the female parent or variation in the expressivity of restorer gene or influence of minor or modifier genes in the restorer parent or interaction between nuclear genes of both the parents.