Mapping genetic factors controlling pollen viability in an interspecific cross in Helianthus sect. Helianthus.

Segregation of 48 genetic markers, including one CMS restorer gene, one morphological character gene, six isozymes and 40 RAPD loci, was scored in a backcross progeny of an interspecific hybrid H. argophyllusxH. annuus cv RHA274. A linkage map was generated taking into account segregation distortions for 11 of the 48 loci in the frame of two different models considering locus-pair segregation in the context of either independent selection pressures or non-equilibrated parental classes. The map consists of nine linkage groups and nine isolated markers covering 390 cM. Approximately half of the plants of the BC1 were male fertile as expected for the segregation of one dominant male-fertility restorer gene; however, these displayed a large range of variation for pollen viability. About 80% of this variation was explained by three genomic regions located on linkage groups 1, 2 and 3. The observation of meiotic chromosomes revealed a significant rate of mispairing (rod bivalents and tetravalents) in tight correlation with pollen viability, indicating that chromosome rearrangements (translocations) are the preponderant factors reducing pollen viability in this progeny. Cytogenetic and mapping data suggest that the three genomic regions involved in pollen-viability variation are located close to translocation points which differentiate the parental-species karyotypes. Segregation distortion was observed for loci correlated with pollen-viability variation. These were most likely the result of two possible suggested mechanisms.

Relations between heterosis and enzymatic polymorphism in populations of cultivated sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.).

Nine polymorphic isoenzymatic systems were studied in 39 cultivated sunflower populations originating from ten countries. Analysis of combining abilities with four tester lines was also performed on these populations for seed yield, seed moisture and seed oil content. The MDH, PGI, PGD and GOT systems appeared to provide the best discrimination of specific combining ability effects with the four testers. The MDH and GOT systems provided a between-population structure that was consistent with the country of origin.

Combining-groups in cultivated sunflower populations (Helianthus annuus L.) and their relationships with the country of origin.

Using four tester lines an analysis of combining abilities for seed yield, seed moisture content and seed oil content was performed on 39 cultivated sunflower populations originating from ten countries. A between-populations structure based on specific combining abilities (SCA) was designed, defining separate combining-groups for each of the four testers. This structure corresponds to the country in which the populations originated.