Characterization and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Abnormal Pollen Germination in Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Tomato.

ABSTRACT: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a plant trait wherein plants cannot develop normal male organs because of the mitochondrial genes. Although the mitochondrial gene orf137 has been identified as the CMS-causing gene in tomatoes, its function remains unclear. In this study, we characterized the sterile male phenotypes and analyzed the CMS pollen transcriptome. Microscopic and calcium imaging analyses revealed that CMS pollen exhibited abnormal germination from multiple apertures, accompanied by elevated calcium concentrations and vesicle accumulation, which are typically observed in pollen tube tips. RNA-Seq analysis revealed 440 differentially expressed genes, including four pectin methylesterase inhibitor (PMEI) genes that were highly expressed in the pollen. PME ac

SUBMITTER: Kuwabara K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12428091 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature