THE IDENTIFICATION AND NATURE OF A NEW THERMOSENSITIVE GENIC MALE STERILITY SOURCE, UPRI 95 - 140 TGMS IN RICE

A spontaneous thermosensitive genetic male sterile line, UPRI 95 - 140 TGMS was identified and studied for its agronomic worth and nature of fertility transformation. Plants of the line are semidwarf with erect flag leaf and good yield potential. Male fertility transformation in it occurred before May 1 in dry season (DS) and August 12 onwards in wet season (WS) under Pantnagar conditions in the northwestern India. Optimum spikelet fertility was shown more than 40% and the period of complete male sterility was 104 days. The TGMS line had strong thermosensitive reaction with male fertility. The 15 - day average thermosensitive temperature for complete sterility was 27.1 (DS) to 28.7° C (WS) and for optimum fertility it was 21.8 (DS) to 26.2° C (WS). The TGMS line has great potential for exploitation in hybrid breeding and is currently being used in combination breeding programme.