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Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes
Sanders - Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach 3rd Edition
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 17, Problem 22

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants has been exploited to produce hybrid seeds. Specific CMS alleles in the mitochondrial genome can be suppressed by specific dominant alleles in the nuclear genome, called Restorer of fertility alleles, RF. Consider the following cross:
♀CMS 1Rf 1/Rf1 rf2/rf2 × ♂CMS2rf 1/rf1 Rf2/Rf2
What genotypes and phenotypes do you expect in the F₁? If some of the F₁ plants are male fertile, what genotypes and phenotypes do you expect in the F₂?

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Understand the genetic system involved. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is determined by mitochondrial genes, and fertility restoration is controlled by nuclear genes. In this problem, CMS1 and CMS2 represent different mitochondrial genomes, while Rf1 and Rf2 are nuclear alleles that restore fertility. Dominant Rf alleles restore fertility, while recessive rf alleles do not.
Step 2: Analyze the parental genotypes. The female parent has the mitochondrial genome CMS1 and nuclear genotype Rf1/Rf1 rf2/rf2. The male parent has the mitochondrial genome CMS2 and nuclear genotype rf1/rf1 Rf2/Rf2. Note that the mitochondrial genome is inherited maternally, so all F₁ offspring will inherit CMS1 from the female parent.
Step 3: Determine the nuclear genotypes of the F₁ offspring. Perform a Punnett square for each nuclear gene. For the Rf1 gene, the cross is Rf1 × rf1, resulting in F₁ genotypes Rf1/rf1. For the Rf2 gene, the cross is rf2 × Rf2, resulting in F₁ genotypes Rf2/rf2. Combine these results to get the nuclear genotypes of the F₁ offspring: Rf1/rf1 Rf2/rf2.
Step 4: Predict the phenotypes of the F₁ offspring. Since the F₁ plants inherit CMS1 from the female parent, their male fertility depends on the nuclear alleles. The presence of at least one dominant Rf allele (Rf1 or Rf2) restores fertility. In this case, all F₁ plants have both Rf1 and Rf2 alleles, so they will be male fertile.
Step 5: Predict the genotypes and phenotypes in the F₂ generation. To determine the F₂ genotypes, perform a dihybrid cross for the nuclear genes Rf1/rf1 and Rf2/rf2. Use a Punnett square to calculate the combinations of these alleles. For phenotypes, consider the combinations of Rf alleles: plants with at least one dominant Rf allele (Rf1 or Rf2) will be male fertile, while plants with only recessive rf alleles (rf1/rf1 rf2/rf2) will be male sterile.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS)

Cytoplasmic male sterility is a genetic condition in plants where the male reproductive structures are non-functional due to specific mitochondrial mutations. This trait is often utilized in hybrid seed production, as it allows for the creation of hybrids without the need for male parents. CMS is typically inherited maternally, meaning it is passed down through the egg cell from the mother plant.
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Restorer of Fertility (Rf) Alleles

Restorer of fertility alleles are dominant nuclear genes that can suppress the effects of cytoplasmic male sterility. When present, these alleles restore the male fertility of plants that would otherwise be sterile due to CMS. The interaction between CMS alleles and Rf alleles is crucial for determining the fertility of hybrid plants and is a key factor in breeding programs.
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Genotype and Phenotype

Genotype refers to the genetic constitution of an organism, specifically the alleles present at a given locus, while phenotype is the observable expression of those genes, including traits such as fertility. In the context of the F₁ and F₂ generations, understanding the genotypes resulting from specific crosses helps predict the phenotypes, including whether plants will be male fertile or sterile based on the presence of Rf alleles.
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