Male Sterility in Cotton

Abstract

Male sterility refers to a condition in which nonfunctional pollen grains are produced in flowering plants. In flowering plants, the first case of male sterility was reported by Koelreuter in 1763. Later on, numerous of male sterility were reported in Angiosperms. In cotton, the first case of male sterility was reported by Justus and Leinweber in 1960 in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Later on, male sterility was reported by various workers in upland, Egyptian and arboreum cottons. Now, male sterility is being used for development of hybrids in both tetraploid and diploid cottons. Male sterility helps in reducing the cost of hybrid seed production by eliminating the process of emasculation. Male sterility is an important outbreeding device which prevents autogamy and permits allogamy. Male sterile plants have non-functional or non-viable pollen grains, which are formed through a chain of vital processes during microsporogenesis. These processes are under the genetic control of many loci that mutation of any locus may result in formation of non-functional pollen grains or microspores and hence male sterility.