Multiple loci not only Rf3 involved in the restoration ability of pollen fertility, anther exsertion and pollen shedding to S type cytoplasmic male sterile in maize

Key message Thirty loci for fertility restoration of pollen fertility, anther exsertion and pollen shedding to maize CMS-S were identified by GWAS. Abstract S type cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS-S) is the main type of CMS in maize; poor understanding of the genetic architecture of fertility restoration to CMS-S is one of the reasons to impede its utility in hybrid breeding. In this study, genome-wide identification of genetic loci for fertility restoration ability to CMS-S was firstly conducted with a set of testcrossing association mapping panel in three environments. A total of 19, 3 and 8 significant loci ( P < 1.8 × 10 −6 , α = 1) for pollen fertility, anther exsertion and pollen shedding were identified, respectively, and individual locus explained up to 28.26 % of phenotypic variation. Of them, only Rf3 , the main restorer-fertility gene of CMS-S, was identified for the three traits simultaneously. In addition, 83 candidate genes within the 100 kb extension regions of these loci were predicted. These results revealed that besides Rf3 multiple genetic loci and mechanisms are involved in the fertility restoration ability to CMS-S. Results in this study would provide important information for understanding the genetic architecture of fertility restoration to CMS-S in maize.