Ethyloxanilates as specific male gametocides for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Induction of male sterility by deployment of male gametocides holds immense potential in heterosis breeding of wheat. The efficacy of a new class of male gametocide for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is described: ethyloxanilates, the most active example of this class being ethyl 4-fluorooxanilate (E4FO). E4FO induces male sterility, specifically, without detectable effects on various agronomic features and female fertility. The plants sprayed once with 0.15% E4FO exhibited 100% pollen and floret sterility without causing a significant reduction in total yield. E4FO was screened on 29 genotypes of wheat at 0.15% test concentration and was observed to induce 99.76 ± 0.37% male sterility. Thirteen F₁-hybrids of wheat were produced using the gametocide in Winter 2000-2001 and were evaluated for their agronomic performance in Winter 2001-2002. The cross combinations viz., lines WR 544 x HW 2046 and HW 2044 x WR 956 have outperformed their respective better parents by 48.17% and 23.42% in grain yield/plant and thus have potential as hybrids.