Question:

Cytoplasmic male sterility is commonly used in hybrid seed production in the following crops:
(A). Wheat
(B). Sorghum
(C). Sunflower
(D). Corn
(E). Chickpea

Show Hint

CMS is most effective in cross-pollinated crops (like corn and sunflower) and select self-pollinated crops with high outcrossing potential (like sorghum).
It is not commercially viable for strictly self-pollinating grain legumes like chickpea.
  • (B), (C) and (D) only
  • (B), (C), (D) and (E) only
  • (A), (B) and (C) only
  • (A), (B), (C) and (D) only
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited condition resulting from mitochondrial gene dysfunctions that prevent the production of functional pollen.
Because the female organs remain fertile, CMS is widely used in commercial hybrid seed production to eliminate the need for manual, expensive emasculation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us analyze the use of CMS systems in the listed crops:
- Sorghum (B): Sorghum is a classic crop where commercial hybrid seed production is entirely based on the CMS (Milomale) system.
- Sunflower (C): Hybrid seed production in sunflower is based on CMS (originally derived from Helianthus petiolaris) paired with nuclear fertility restorer (Rf) genes.
- Corn (D): Maize was historically one of the first crops to widely use CMS (such as T, C, and S cytoplasms) to produce hybrids on a massive scale without manual detasseling.
- Wheat (A): While CMS systems exist in wheat (derived from Triticum timopheevii), they are not widely used for commercial hybrid seed production due to difficulties with restoration and cross-pollination.
Most hybrid wheat programs rely on chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs).
- Chickpea (E): Chickpea is a highly self-pollinated legume with cleistogamous flowers.
CMS has not been commercially developed or adopted for large-scale hybrid seed production in chickpea.
Therefore, CMS is commonly and successfully utilized for hybrid production in Sorghum, Sunflower, and Corn.
This corresponds to (B), (C), and (D) only, matching Option (A).

Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct option is (A) (B), (C) and (D) only.
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