Regeneration of cytoplasmic male sterile protoclones of Nicotiana sylvestris with mitochondrial variations

One fertile and two male-sterile diploid plants were regenerated from the same callus after two cycles of protoplast culture from fertile Nicotiana sylvestris. Genetic studies indicated that the male-sterile trait was under cytoplasmic control. Progenies of each regenerated plant possessed different mitochondrial (mt) DNA restriction patterns. Both cms protoclone types were characterized by specific mtDNA deletions. In addition, a 40 kD mitochondrially encoded polypeptide is lacking in the cms plants.