Molecular Aspects of Nuclear Genome Involvement in S Cytoplasmic Male-Sterile Maize

The nuclear genome genetically influences the S-type of cytoplasmically inherited male sterility in maize (cms-S) at three levels: (1) nuclear fertility restoring genes; (2) the degree of instability, i.e., the frequency of reversion to fertility; and (3) the proportion of revertants which are due to either nuclear or cytoplasmically based mutations. At the molecular level, this thesis project asked if the linear, plasmid-like mitochondrial DNAs (plmtDNAs) S1 and S2, unique to plants carrying cms-S cytoplasms, are involved in the nuclear control phenomenon. Levels of S1 and S2 plmtDNAs were assayed electrophoretically and shown to have differing replication characteristics in different inbred backgrounds, irregardless of the cms-S cytoplasmic strain. Shifts in relative levels of S1 and S2 were observed as nuclear genomes converted during backcross programs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Genetics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Carlson, John Edward

• Biology, Genetics

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8324522

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71754