Thermosensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) is a genic male sterility expression regulated by certain temperature conditions. This male sterility system is considered more efficient than CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility) system for hybrid rice breeding because CMS lines require specific maintainer and restorer line. So an attempt was made to identify a suitable chemical that can induce complete sterility without affecting the female organs in a stable TGMS line, TS 29 even when the temperature drops below the critical sterility temperature. Salicylic acid at 800 ppm at third and fifth stages of panicle development was found to effect near complete pollen sterility in TS 29 without affecting the female fertility. The fluorescent microscopic studies showed that the pollen from the restorer line (MDU 5) reached the ovule of TS 29, and the histological studies also showed the entry of the pollen tube into the ovule of TS29 proving the selective sterility of the chemical.
Female fertility, pollen germination, rice, salicylic acid, TGMS
