Vasupalli Naresh, Mogilicherla Kanakachari, Shaik Vahab, Rao K R S Sambasiva, Bhat Shripad R, Lin Xinchun
State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Feb 5;16:1540693. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1540693. eCollection 2025.
Male sterility forms the foundation of hybrid seed production technology in field crops. A variety of genetically controlled male sterility/fertility systems starting with cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), genic male sterility (GMS) including conditional male sterility and transgenic-based male sterility have been developed and deployed for heterosis breeding over the past century. Here we review environment-sensitive genic male sterility (EGMS) and biotechnology-based male sterility systems and describe the underlying molecular mechanisms. Advances in crop genomics and discovery of a large number of nuclear genes governing anther/pollen development, which are shared across species, are helping design diverse types of male sterile lines suitable for different crop species and situations. In particular, gene editing offers quick and easy route to develop novel male sterility systems for hybrid seed production. We discuss the advantages and challenges of biotechnology-based male sterility systems and present alternative strategies to address concerns of transgenics. Finally, we propose development of functional male sterility systems based on pollen competition as the future area that holds great promise for heterosis breeding.
雄性不育是大田作物杂交种子生产技术的基础。在过去的一个世纪里，已经开发并应用了多种遗传控制的雄性不育/育性系统，从细胞质雄性不育（CMS）、包括条件雄性不育的细胞核雄性不育（GMS）到基于转基因的雄性不育，用于杂种优势育种。在此，我们综述环境敏感型细胞核雄性不育（EGMS）和基于生物技术的雄性不育系统，并描述其潜在的分子机制。作物基因组学的进展以及大量控制花药/花粉发育的核基因的发现（这些基因在物种间是共享的），有助于设计适合不同作物物种和情况的多种类型的雄性不育系。特别是，基因编辑为开发用于杂交种子生产的新型雄性不育系统提供了快速简便的途径。我们讨论了基于生物技术的雄性不育系统的优点和挑战，并提出了应对转基因问题的替代策略。最后，我们提出基于花粉竞争开发功能性雄性不育系统，作为杂种优势育种未来极具前景的领域。
