A short review of research on male sterility and prospects for F1 hybrid varieties in field beans (Vicia faba L.)

Summary It has not yet been possible to utilise cytoplasmically inherited male sterility (CMS) in Vicia faba, in the commerical production of F₁ hybrids. The main problem has been a rapid increase in the proportion of fertile revertants during multiplication. Investigations, mainly in France, have clarified environmental causes of phenotypic instability, CMS and maintainer lines with improved stability have been selected, and two new cytoplasms have been produced by mutation of the first two. CMS is known to be associated with cytoplasmic spherical particles, and recognisable types of double stranded RNA, and there may also be an association with mitochondrial DNA, and polypeptides of mitochondrial origin.The better understanding of CMS may eventually lead to more easily managed forms, either through genetic manipulation or biochemical assays that breeders can use for screening for stability.