Graft-induced transmission of cytoplasmic male sterility in alfalfa

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Abstract
Whether factors conditioning cytoplasmic male sterility in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can be transferred asexually was tested by grafting maintainer scions on male-sterile stocks. Autonomy of scion flowers was in no case altered, but cytoplasmic male sterility was confirmed in F1 scion progeny of three graft combinations. One of these combinations produced 25 F1 scion progeny, 10 of which were cytoplasmic male steriles. A graft transfer system of male sterility factors analogous to the one reported in Petunia hybrida is advocated where sterility transfer is first detected in scion progeny plants. Also tested was whether male fertility can be increased in the progeny of cytoplasmic male-sterile scions by growing them on fertile maintainer stocks. A higher proportion of F1 scion progeny were rated as partially male sterile than were control progeny. However, no progeny plants consistently produced flowers that were male fertile. An improved grafting technique is also described in which a self-adhesive latex bandage material is used to secure graft components. This technique, which gave almost 100 percent scion livability, requires only one-quarter as much time as previous methods and is an easier technique to learn.