Mechanisms of cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility in pigeongea wide cross Cajanus cajan x C. acutifolius

Abstract

Cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterile plants (CGMS) were obtained as a result of crossing cultivated CaJanus caJan with wild species C. acutifolius. There were two types of CMS plants which were distinguished by anther morphology. Both the types of CMS plants had complete sterility of the anthers. Type I CMS had partially or totally brown and shriveled anthers and the process of microsporogenesis was inhibited at the pre-meiotic stage. Type II CMS plants had pale while shriveled anthers and the break down in microsporogenesis was at the post-meiotic stage after the formation of tetrads caused sterility of the plants.