Fei Wang1, Mary O'Connell1, James Mac Stewart2, and Jinfa Zhang1. (1) Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, MSC 3Q, Las Cruces, NM 88003, (2) CSES University of Arkansas, 123 Plant Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait. The genes associated with CMS are located on the mitochondrial genome involving sequence rearrangement of functional mitochondrial genes or unidentified sequences. A CMS plant processes a pollen sterility phenotype, and fertility in CMS plants can be recovered by nuclear restorer genes. This poster will report the progress in molecular characterization of CMS-D8 cotton in comparison with CMS-D2 system. Molecular analysis using MtDNA RFLP, gene sequencing and MtDNA gene expression has been conducted. The results will provide some insight into the molecular basis of cytoplasmic male sterility in cotton.
