What is the Difference Between Genetic Male Sterility and Cytoplasmic Male Sterility?

Genetic male sterility and cytoplasmic male sterility are two distinct types of male sterility in plants. The key difference between them lies in the factors that cause the sterility:

Genetic Male Sterility: This type of sterility occurs due to genome mutations, which affect the male reproductive part of the plant. It prevents autogamy and leads to heterozygosity.
Cytoplasmic Male Sterility: This type of sterility is caused by specific nuclear and mitochondrial interactions, rather than genome mutations. The sterility is inherited maternally and shows non-Mendelian inheritance, with two types of cytoplasm: normal (N) and aberrant S (sterile) cytoplasms. In general, CMS is more common than nuclear male sterility.

Both genetic and cytoplasmic male sterility can arise at any stage of pollen development and act as an outbreeding device that prevents autogamy and leads to heterozygosity. However, the development of cytoplasmic male sterility solely depends on cytoplasmic factors and may also depend on interactions between cytoplasmic factors and nuclear factors.

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What is the Difference Between Genetic Male Sterility and Cytoplasmic Male Sterility?

Comparative Table: Genetic Male Sterility vs Cytoplasmic Male Sterility

There are two types of male sterility in plants: genetic male sterility and cytoplasmic male sterility. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two:

Feature	Genetic Male Sterility	Cytoplasmic Male Sterility
Cause	Occurs due to genome mutations	Occurs due to cytoplasmic and nuclear factors
Control	Controlled by the genome of the plant, also referred to as nuclear male sterility	Controlled by the interaction between the cytoplasm (mitochondria) and the nucleus
Types	There are three types: temperature-sensitive, photoperiod-sensitive, and transgenic genetic male sterility	There are different types, such as alloplasmic cytoplasmic male sterility, which is induced by crossing distantly related plants
Inheritance	Genetic male sterility is not maternally inherited	Cytoplasmic male sterility is maternally inherited
Pollen Production	Genetic male sterility can lead to total or partial sterility, affecting pollen production	Cytoplasmic male sterility prevents the production of functional pollen but does not affect its production

Both genetic and cytoplasmic male sterility prevent autogamy and lead to heterozygosity in plant breeding. Cytoplasmic male sterility is often used in hybrid breeding systems, where the sterility is caused by the interaction between a sterilizing cytoplasm and one or more nuclear restorer-of-fertility (Rf) genes.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.