Identification of sterile cytoplasm (CMS) in maize by using specific mtDNA primers

摘要

Thirty sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) from Maize Gene Bank "Zemun Polje", distributed among Yugoslav OP varieties, have been tested for the presence of particular type of cytoplasm by a single seed multiplex PCR approach with specific primer pairs for T, C and S type cytoplasm. Combination of three pairs of primers in a single PCR reaction, corresponding to the chimeric regions of mtDNA sequences specific for each type of CMS, allowed reliable identification of the major CMS types. Dominant presence of S type cytoplasm was detected. For sources where there is no clear identification of the type of CMS (absence of the PCR band) there is a reasonable doubt that it could be a new, yet unidentified type of CMS.