Introgression of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in tropical carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus Schubl. & Martens)

The petaloid-CMS plants identified in naturally occurring open-pollinated population were used for introgression of male sterility in two varieties (Kashi Arun and Kashi Krishna) and 11 advanced elite materials of tropical carrot through backcrossing at ICAR-IIVR, Jakhini, Varanasi, UP. The tropical varieties and elite materials having diverse morphological backgrounds i.e. root colour (Red, Orange, Yellow, Rainbow, Black & White) and root shape (Danvers, Nantes & Kuroda) were used as recurrent parent in order to recover their background. Thirteen CMS-lines [VRCAR-211, VRCAR-212 & VRCAR-214 (red root); VRCAR-231, VRCAR-234 & VRCAR-241 (orange root); VRCAR-271 & VRCAR-272 (yellow root), VRCAR-291 & VRCAR-292 (rainbow root), VRCAR-251 & VRCAR-252 (black root), and VRCAR-331 (white root)] and their respective maintainers were similar in root colour, root shape and synchronous in flowering/pollination activities which may be used for heterosis breeding for development of nutrient-rich hybrids suitable for tropical/sub-tropical conditions.