Inheritance of fertility restoration for A2 cytoplasm of pigeonpea [Cajanus scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars]

Information on the genetics of fertility restoration in a cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system facilitates breeding and or selection of restorer lines in hybrid breeding programmes involving CMS system. Inheritance of fertility restoration of A2 cytoplasm [Cajanus scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars] in pigeonpea was studied utilizing two CMS lines, CORG 990052A and CORG 990047A in combination with three restorers viz., Co 1R, Co 2R and Co 3R. Each cross was used to develop a set of materials consisting of the following generations viz., parental lines A, B and R; A x R- F1; A x F1–BC1FI and F1 x F1– F2. The study of F2 generation indicated that the fertility restoration in Co 1R for CORG 990052A was governed by two independent dominant genes, while fertility restoration in Co 2R and Co 3R for CORG 990047A was governed by single dominant gene. The results were confirmed by studying the BC1F1 generation of the three crosses’ combinations.