Phenotypic characterization, genetic analysis, and molecular mapping of a new mutant gene for male sterility in rice

xs1 is a male-sterile rice mutant derived from a spontaneous mutation. The floret of the mutant, consisting of 6 stamens and 1 pistil, looks the same as that of the wild type except that the filaments are long and thin and the anthers are withered in white transparence. It is confirmed that xs1 is a no-pollen type of male-sterile mutant, for no pollen grains can be stained with I2–KI solution and the anther locules are always hollow. Anther transverse sections indicate that the mutant microspores are abnormally condensed and agglomerated to form a deeply stained cluster at the late microspore stage, which results in cessation of the vacuolation process of microspores, and, therefore, the mutant forms no functional pollens for reproduction. Genetic analysis of 4 F2 populations and 3 BC1F1 populations revealed that the mutation is controlled by a single recessive gene, termed VR1 (Vacuolation retardation 1). Screening of 432 F2 mutant individuals derived from the cross of xs1 × G603 with simple sequence repeat markers revealed that VR1 is located between the molecular markers RM17411 and RM5030, at distances of 0.7 and 1.5 cM, respectively, on chromosome 4. VR1 is a new male fertility controlling gene located on chromosome 4 in rice.