Development of two new cytoplasmic male-sterile lines in Brassica juncea through wide hybridization

Abstract

Two new cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) lines have been developed in Brassica juncea using the bridgecross hybrids (Diplotaxis erucoides× Brassica campestris)× B. juncea and (Diplotaxis berthautii× B. campestris)× B. juncea. These were backcrossed × ve times with pollen of B. juncea. The CMS line (D. erucoides) B. juncea segregated into tall and short true breeding types; both resembled the cultivar B. juncea in vegetative and floral morphology and in cytology, except for a greater number of secondary branches and smaller anthers with empty sterile pollen in the CMS line. Female fertility was as good in the CMS line as in the cultivar. The other CMS line (D. berthautii) B. juncea resembled the cultivar in vegetative morphology and cytology. Four true breeding floral types were isolated as follows: (1) smaller and indehiscent anthers containing empty, sterile pollen, (2) all six stamens petaloid, (3) one petaloid stamen and five stamens antherless, and (4) apetalous flowers with all six stamens antherless.