In vitro mutagenesis induced novel thermo/photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile indica rice with green-revertible xanthan leaf color marker

A series of leaf color mutants were isolated from young inflorescenceculture of thermo/photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile (T/PGMS) indicarice `Xinguang S'. Most mutants maintained the temperature-insensitivityfor color expression, although some of the mutants weretemperature-sensitive and expressed the mutated colors only under higheror lower temperatures. One elite mutant `R172s' with a single recessivegene controlling green-revertible xanthan marker was found to possess thesame agronomic traits, combining ability, and T/PGMS characteristics as theoriginal parent. The marker-labeled seedlings were easily distinguished fromnormal green seedlings, and their survival rate under field conditions wassignificantly lower than that of hybrid seedlings. These results suggest thatthe leaf color mutations may be used as an ideal marker for monitoring theseed purity in hybrid rice production.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]