Project Number: 6202-21000-027-03
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2007
End Date: Jul 31, 2012

Objective:
Identify the genetic map location of genes controlling pollen fertility restorer in sorghum. Identify potential candidate genes controlling pollen fertility in sorghum. Elucidate the mode of action of fertility restorer genes in controlling pollen viability in sorghum hybrids.

Approach:
Utilize existing molecular marker technology to locate the position of fertility restorer loci on the annotated gene map of sorghum. Utilize the sequence of the sorghum genome to identify genes that belong to the pentatricopeptide gene family. Utilize bioinformatic tools to compare sequence of candidate fertility restorer genes to known fertility restorer genes in rice to more accurately predict functional fertility restorer genes and to better understand the mode of gene action in restoring pollen viability.