Fertility restorer gene and fertility restoration method for cw-type male sterile cytoplasm of rice

Abstract

Mainly provided is a technique for directly identifying the genotype at locus Rf17 based on the specific base sequence data thereof. Also provided is a technique for artificially constructing a fertility-restored line. A method of restoring the fertility of CW-type cytoplasmic male sterile rice by inhibiting or reducing the expression of a gene comprising the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 in the above-described rice, and a method for determining the presence or absence of gene Rf17, which is a fertility restorer gene for CW-type cytoplasmic male sterility, comprising identifying a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the base at the 1812 position of the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 in the rice to be examined.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for restoring the fertility of CW-type cytoplasmic male sterile rice, comprising inhibiting or reducing the expression of a gene comprising the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 in said rice. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of inhibiting or reducing the expression of a gene comprises introducing into said rice a polynucleotide consisting of a base sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a base sequence of at least 1611-4835 positions of the base sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:1,   (b) a base sequence that hybridizes with the base sequence (a) or its complementary sequence under stringent conditions, and   (c) a base sequence having homology of about 95% or more with the base sequence (a).   
     
     
         17 . Rice whose fertility has been restored by the method of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         18 . A method for breeding a first filial generation variety using the rice according to  claim 17 , comprising:
 crossing CW-type cytoplasmic male sterile rice with pollen of the rice of  claim 17 .   
     
     
         19 . F1 hybrid seed harvested from the first filial generation variety bred by the method according to  claim 18 .