Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Simona COMAN, Lizica SZILAGYI, Costică CIONTU
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in corn is an important aspect of hybrid seed production, enabling efficient crossbreeding by eliminating the need for mechanical and manual detasseling. However, breaking sterility is a phenomenon that appears often. Research highlights that the breaking of sterility is governed by genetic factors as restorers of fertility (Rf genes), interactions between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, environmental factors such as temperature and light condition, physiological and biochemical factors, or anthropogenic interventions. While these mechanisms have advanced hybrid crop production, they can also introduce challenges such as reduced genetic adaptability and heightened susceptibility to environmental stressors. A detailed understanding of the factors implications in breaking sterility is vital to optimizing corn production systems while mitigating potential risks. This study consolidates information from the literature on studies of the factors that lead to the sterility breakage of CMS lines in corn.
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