title: Molecular analysis of cytoplasmic male sterility in chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.).
abstract: The mitochondria of chive plants with normal N or male-sterile S cytoplasms have been examined by restriction fragment analysis and Southern hybridizations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and in organello protein biosynthesis. Restriction fragment patterns of the mtDNA differed extensively between N-and S-cytoplasms. The percentage of fragments with different mobility varied between 44-48% depending on the restriction enzyme used. In contrast to mtDNA, the restriction fragment patterns of the chloropolast DNA from N- and S-cytoplasms were identical. The organization of the analyzed mitochondrial genes coxII, coxIII, nad1 and nad3 was different in N- and S-cytoplasms. Comparison of mitochondrial proteins analyzed by in organello translation revealed an 18-kDa protein present only in S-cytoplasm. The restorer gene X suppressed the synthesis of that protein in S-cytoplasm. Thus, the 18-kDa protein seems to be associated with the cytoplasmic male-sterile phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Genetics, University of Hannover, Herrenhäuser Strasse 2, D-30419, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Potz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatlioglu