Morphological and Molecular Selection of Fertility Restorer Gene(s) in Segragating Populations of Rice

Combination of classical breeding with molecular marker-assisted selection speeds up the development of new breeding lines. Lack of appropriate restorer varieties, the low number of suitable lines and their narrow genetic base are fundamental problems in hybrid rice production. This study was performed with the aim of identification and selection ofplantswithrestorefertility genes in segregating populations of rice. Therefore study of nucleus genome of selected lines was conducted along with molecular studies for the identification of restorer lines in two convergent populations of rice Nemat × Pajohesh // IR58110 × Pajohesh and Nemat × Pajohesh // IR60819 × Pajohesh and two populations of Pajohesh × IR60819 and IR58110 × Pajohesh. The experiments were followed for two years and the results showed that the lines R5, R7, R9, R28 and R45 had desirable performance in the pollen and spicklet fertility test. Molecular analysis performed on selected lines and genotypes showed that the markers RM171, RM3148, RM1 and RM258 presented good banding patterns. Therefore, the lines R3, R5, R7, R9, R18, R25, R27, R28, R29 and R45 were identified as positive at least for two markers representing similar patterns torestorercheck (IR50). Thus, the results of pollen and spikes fertility tests and molecular studies demonstrated that lines R5, R7, R9, R28 and R45 are potential restorers. Further studies in future generations of theselinescanbe used as desirable lines inhybrid seed production.