Isolation and Characterization of Maintainers and Restorers of Rice

The study was conducted to identify potential restorers and maintainers from indica/japonica derivative lines and conversion of selected maintainers possessing desirable plant type into CMS lines. 65 test cross combinations including one wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and 46 pollen parents were used as material of the study. The aspects of the study were development of source nursery and test cross nursery, estimation of pollen fertility, identification of potential restorers and potential maintainers. The study showed that of all the pollen parents in 65 success test crosses, 14 were restorers (21.54%), 27 were partial restorer (41.54%), 14 were partial maintainers (21.54%) and 10 were maintainers (15.38%).Out of 14 restorer lines, 11 lines were selected on the basis of crop uniformity. Based on scale of different characters a combined score was computed and on the basis of pooled approach of ranking, 5 top ranking (I-III) restorer lines were selected for converting into experimental hybrids. Among the 10 maintainer lines 4 potential lines were selected on the basis of pooled approach of ranking for conversion into new CMS lines.