Organelle genome composition and candidate gene identification for Nsa cytoplasmic male sterility in Brassica napus.

Background: Nsa cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a novel alloplasmic male sterility system derived from somatic hybridization between Brassica napus and Sinapis arvensis. Identification of the CMS-associated gene is a prerequisite for a better understanding of the origin and molecular mechanism of this CMS. With the development of genome sequencing technology, organelle genomes of Nsa CMS line and its maintainer line were sequenced by pyro-sequencing technology, and comparative analysis of the organelle genomes was carried out to characterize the organelle genome composition of Nsa CMS as well as to identify the candidate Nsa CMS-associated genes.

[The discovery and genetic analysis of dwarf mutation 99CDAM in Brassica napus L].

The plant height of rapeseed varieties has increased more than 20 cm due to wide application of heterosis, which leads to high risk of lodging at late stages of rapeseed development. Using dwarf genes to decrease plant height is an effective approach to resolve the lodging problem. A dwarf mutation 99CDAM with plant height of about 85 cm was discovered from a Brassica napus line which had selfed for many years.