HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Osman, H. Elg. Articles by Yermanos, D. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Osman, H. Elg. Articles by Yermanos, D. M. Agricola Articles by Osman, H. Elg. Articles by Yermanos, D. M.

Genetic Male Sterility in Sesame: Reproductive Characteristics and Possible Use in Hybrid Seed Production¹

Male-sterile plants, producing nonviable pollen, were recovered from a Venezuelan seed stock of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Grosses between these plants and male-fertile cultivars produced a proportion of F₂ segregants that were also male-sterile. Seed set on male-sterile plants following hand pollinations with normal pollen was high indicating that these plants were female-fertile. Greenish anther color at pollen dehiscence distinguished male-sterile from male-fertile plants, the latter having whitish anthers. Microscopic examinations revealed that sterile anthers had no endothecium and that their pollen lacked exine and had no definite wall surface structure. Observations on flower morphology of F₂ plants indicated that the male-sterility trait is stable, easily maintained under greenhouse and open field conditions and positively recognizable 3 to 4 days before anthesis. The male-sterility described here can be used for commercial hybrid seed production which could lead to major increases of sesame yield per hectare.

Key Words: Pollen • Microsporogenesis • Exine • Endothecium

² Plant breeder, Kenana Research Station, AbuNaama Sudan, and professor of agronomy, Univ. of California, Riverside, respectively.

Received for publication February 9, 1981.