Genetic studies on hybrid sterility in barley

Abstract

Partially sterile F¹ barley plants were found when some Ethiopian varieties were crossed with Tayeh 1 (Chinese landrace), even though the parents were completely fertile. This hybrid sterility is shown to be controlled by two duplicate genes (sfg1 and sfg2). Because this gene interaction affects the female gamete only, the female gametes carrying the both sfg1 and sfg2 genes became sterile, the end result being that seed fertility of the F₁ plants is decreased to around 75%. Seed fertility was not significantly influenced by cytoplasms and genetic backgrounds of the F₁ plants, and years grown the F₁ plants.