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;AxR-F₁;Ax F₁-BC₁F₁ and F₁ x F₁-F. 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.