Crop heterosis and herbicide

Abstract

Heterosis designates the increased growth or other augmented action resulting from crossing, however it is produced. Male sterility of female parent is an important biological mechanism for the commercial production of hybrid seed. Male sterility can be created by genetic manipulation, environmental influences, chemical induction and biological engineering. In principle, male sterility is a physiological disorder and the creation of complete male sterility either is costly or brings about other physiological disordrs. Integrating the resistance gene to a non-selective herbicide into male parent and spraying the herbicide onto the hybrid population resulting from mating with the male parent for securing hybrid purity reduces the strict demand for complete male sterility. Therefore, simple and practical methodologies such as environmental and chemical means can be employed in the induction of male sterility, and the conflict of male sterility with other physiological disorders can be well balanced. The concept of this invention is applicable to all the crops and plants in which male sterility has been studied for heterosis purposes including, for example, forage and vegetable crops and cereals.

Description

[0001] Cross references related to the application [0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of US Prevention Application Serial No. 60 / 044,990, filed April 28, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part of US Prevention Application Serial No. 60 / 046,058, filed May 9, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also a partial continuation of the Chinese application serial number 97107807.6 filed on December 5, 1997, which is hereby incorporated as a reference. [0003] Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development: No [0004] Bibliographic references for Microfiche Addendum: No Background of the invention [0005] The present invention relates to the breeding of crop or plant hybrids, hybrids produced by cross breeding genetically differentiated parental plants or crops with increased vigor or other desirable qualities. In particular, the present invention relates to ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0048] (a) The concentration of the chemical agent: low concentration cannot guarantee complete male sterility, and high concentration may lead to some other physiological disorders, such as partial encirclement, abnormal flowering, some spikelets closed glumes, incomplete rice panicle development, or even Damage to female organs such as stigma

As a result, these physiological disturbances can reduce the yield of hybrid seeds and increase the cost of seed production

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