Marker-Assisted Improvement of the Elite Maintainer Line of Rice, IR 58025B for Wide Compatibility (S5n) Gene

The degree of heterosis in different hybrid rice varieties is reported to be at the highest in indica/japonica cross combination, however, there is a problem of sterility and semi-sterility in such inter sub specific hybrids. To overcome this problem, it is essential to develop parental lines having wide compatibility (S5ⁿ) gene. In this study, a functional marker S5-InDel was used for marker-assisted backcrossing (MABB) to introgress S5ⁿ gene from Dular into the genetic background of a widely grown recurrent parent IR 58025B, a maintainer line of wild-abortive (WA) cytoplasmic male sterile line, IR 58025A. Further, a closely linked marker nksbadh2 was used for the identification of plants devoid of aroma in backcross population to develop hybrids with no aroma. The stringent phenotypic selection followed by background selection of BC₃F₄ identified plants with 94.51–98.90% of the recurrent parent genome recovery of lines carrying S5ⁿ gene. Subsequently, at 10 promising BC₃F₅ lines possessing S5ⁿ gene with high yielding and long-slender grain type were validated for their maintainer behavior through test crosses with IR 58025A. Also the improved lines showed significantly improved spikelet fertility performance while crossed with japonica and javanica testers in comparison to the original recurrent parent. The improved lines developed in the present study, are being converted to CMS lines through marker-assisted backcross breeding to facilitate precise and improved hybrid breeding program in rice.

Introduction

Rice is the principal food crop for >50% of world's population and is essential to food security. India ranks first with 44 million hectares area in the world for rice cultivation and second in production with 104.92 million tons. Almost 31% of calories of Indian diet is provided by rice. To feed the continuously growing population of 150 billion by 2030 it is pre-requisite to produce ~130 million tons rice (Indiastat, 2015-16). Exploitation of hybrid vigor in hybrid rice breeding technique is one of the possible options for enhancing rice yield and productivity (Virmani, 1996). Being a self-pollinated crop, there is a need to change pollination system and promote natural out-crossing through induction of male sterility to facilitate hybrid rice breeding. The wild-abortive (WA) is the most commonly used cytoplasm for production of hybrid seed in rice. Because of extensive hard work of several eminent scientists from more than two decades, India has been successfully released 102 hybrid rice from public and private sector for commercial cultivation in the country (ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, 2018). Currently, all the released hybrids are inter-varietal (indica/indica) in nature, which does not give a much significant gain of yield advantage over high yielding varieties. It was observed that inter-specific crosses have higher yield heterosis than intra-sub-specific crosses, and the level of yield advantage ranked as indica/temperate japonica > indica/tropical japonica > temperate japonica/tropical japonica > indica/indica > japonica/japonica (Yuan, 1994). One of the factors associated with inter-specific indica/japonica crosses is the formation of sterile pollen grains making the plant sterile. Approximately ~50 loci controlling indica × japonica hybrid sterility and the loci dealing to overcome sterility, wide compatibility (WC) have been identified to date (Ouyang et al., 2009).

The wide compatibility gene, S5ⁿ is known as one of the locus which is reported to enhance the wide compatibility during the crossed made between indica and japonica lines (Ouyang et al., 2009). S5ⁿ is a neutral allele that produces fertile offspring when crossed either with indica (S5ⁱ) or japonica (S5^j) allele. In this way, S5ⁿ adds to gene flow amongst indica and japonica. It was found that the S5ⁿ allele contains a 136-bp deletion, which eliminates residues at the N-terminal region of aspartic protease which was not in the case of S5ⁱ and S5^j. On comparing sequences of S5ⁱ and S5^j, there were two SNPs identified in the coding region, located at 1,010 bp [C/A] and 1,604 bp [C/T] downstream of the start codon and a 1-bp addition/deletion inside the five untranslated region (Chen et al., 2008). The wide compatibility trait in Dular and Moroberekan is controlled by a single dominant gene (Vijayakumar and Virmani, 1992). S5 and Sa are found to be a major locus responsible for the female sterility and male sterility in indica-japonica hybrids respectively (Long et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2012). Recently, Mi et al. (2016) introgressed two wide-compatibility alleles, S5-n and f5-n, regulating embryo-sac and pollen fertility, respectively in to an elite indica restorer line 9311 to develop new plant type hybrids.

The development of commercial varieties/hybrids is difficult by the direct utilization of wide compatibility (WC) gene(s) from a donor because it may not carry all the desired agronomic traits. Therefore, we should first introgressed the desired WC gene(s) into the suitable genetic background and then use the improve donor line in the breeding program. Transfer of wide compatibilities gene (S5n) into hybrid rice parental line is the preliminary stage for the development of sterility free heterotic indica/japonica hybrid. The WC genes present either in male sterile or restorer line is determining factor for high spikelet fertility in F₁ hybrids. To select improved agronomically superior lines carrying trait of interest can be achieved in faster and precise manner using marker-assisted foreground and background selection.

In the present study, we have improved IR 58025B a maintainer line of IR 58025A (CMS line of 90+ commercially released hybrids in India) with S5ⁿ, which is highly stable male sterile lines having wild abortive cytoplasm, good combining ability and heterosis with different restores. The improved lines possessing wide compatibility (S5ⁿ) gene would be used as better male sterile lines for exploiting heterosis with diverse restorers (including Japonica). The CMS line, IR 58025A is derived from the cross between IR 48483A (as a female parent) and PUSA 167-120-3-2 (as male parent) possessing long slender grain type and mild aroma. The donor line, Dular possessing five different wide compatibility (WC) genes and exhibits highest phenotypic variance for wide compatibility trait. It was noted that Dular produces highly fertile hybrids when crossed with indica and japonica varieties (Pan et al., 1990; Liu et al., 1996; Zhang et al., 1997; Wang et al., 1998). Interestingly, the hybrids developed from IR 58025B has the property of a mild aroma, which is unprefferable in some parts of India like Southern India. Keeping this in view, we have used marker-assisted backcross breeding strategy coupled with precise phenotypic selection and introgressed WC gene into IR 58025B and developed lines that are agronomically superior and are devoid of aroma.

Materials and Methods

Plant Materials and Molecular Breeding

The plant materials used in the research work included recurrent parent IR 58025B and donor parent Dular possessing wide compatibility (S5ⁿ) gene. The overall Marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) approach followed a recurrent backcross procedure including three generations of backcross and four generations of selfing, combined with foreground and background selection (Supplementary Figure 1). A cross was made between the recipient IR 58025B and the donor Dular to generate F₁ seeds. F₁ plants were backcrossed with recurrent parent IR 58025B to raise BC₃F₁ generations. Marker-selected plants, heterozygous for S5ⁿ⁺⁻ and badh2⁺⁻ loci in the BC₃F₁ generation were selfed to generate BC₃F₂ generations. In the BC₃F₂ generation, plants homozygous for S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁺⁺ and S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁻ were selected with maximum genome recovery of IR58025B through marker-assisted background selection followed by stringent phenotyping. Further, the selected plants were advanced through pedigree-based phenotypic selection to obtain S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁺⁺ as well as S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁻ near-isogenic lines (NILs).

All the agronomic performance evaluation and molecular marker analysis were conducted at the Barwale Foundation Research Centre, Hyderabad, India located at 17°24′ 22″ N, 78°12′ 40″ E, and an altitude of 536 m above mean sea level during Wet season 2011 to Wet season 2015.

DNA Isolation, PCR Amplification, and Electrophoresis

Fresh leaves were collected from 5 to 6 week-old seedlings of parental lines and backcross progenies. Genomic DNA was isolated following the CTAB method (Dellaporta et al., 1983). DNA samples were quantified on 0.8% agarose gel by comparison with 100/200 ng of Lambda uncut DNA. The DNA was diluted in TE buffer making the final concentration of DNA approximately 25 ng/μl before PCR amplification. BIO-RAD MyCycler thermal cycler was used for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The composition of master mix is 25 nanogram (ng) of template DNA, 0.05 millimolar (mM) of deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs) (Sigma-Aldrich, USA), 5 picomolar (pM) of each forward and reverse primer, 0.5 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) and 1X PCR reaction buffer containing 10 millimolar (mM) tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS), pH 8.4, 50 millimolar (mM) potassium chloride (KCl), 1.5 millimolar (mM) magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and 0.01 milligrams/milliliters (mg/ml) gelatin (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) in a total volume of 15 μl. PCR was performed using with initial denaturation at 94°C for 5 min followed by 35 cycles of PCR amplification under the following parameters: 15 s at 94°C, 30 s at 55°C, and 45 s at 72°C, followed by final extension at 72°C for 6 min. The amplified product S5ⁿ tightly linked markers S5-InDel (Sundaram et al., 2010) and was electrophoretically resolved on 1.5% gels in 1x TAE at 100 V for 80–120 min (Sigma-Aldrich, USA). The amplified product of SSR markers used for background selection and functional marker nksbadh2 (Singh et al., 2011) for badh2 gene was electrophoretically resolved on 8% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel (CBS Scientific, USA). The gel was then stained in ethidium bromide solution (1 μg/ml) for 15 min and de-stained with water and observed on a UV Tran illuminator (Bio-Rad, USA).

Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding

Foreground Selection for Wide Compatibility Gene

A marker-assisted backcross breeding program was adopted for targeted introgression of S5ⁿ locus into IR 58025B background. F₁ progenies are backcrossed till BC₃ generation, thereafter the plants progenies were advanced through pedigree method. PCR-based STS marker S5-InDel was used to identify the allelic status of S5ⁿ followed by the functional marker for badh2 for identification of lines devoid of aroma at BC₁F₁ and subsequent backcross generations. Together with genotyping we have implemented stringent phenotyping in each backcross population for all the agronomic and grain quality traits. We have forwarded/selected only those plants which possess maximum recurrent parent genome recovery and phenotypic similarity/superiority to the recurrent parent. Therefore, we have found transgressive segregants for most of the traits in the backcross derived lines. The list of markers used for foreground selection (Supplementary Table 1).

Background Selection for the Recurrent Parent Genome Recovery

A total of 486 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers, uniformly distributed throughout the 12 rice chromosomes were taken from the “SSR Markers Resource” (http://archive.gramene.org/markers/) were used for the parental polymorphism survey between IR 58025B and Dular. Polymorphic markers between the two parental lines were used for background selection in backcross populations generated from the crosses (Supplementary Table 2). The estimation of the maximum genome recovery of the recurrent parent genome and selection of the best plant based on SSR marker data was carried out using the software program Graphical GenoTypes (GGT) Version 2.0 (Van Berloo, 1999).

Grain Quality and Agronomic Performance Evaluations

Thirty days old seedlings of parents and the selected families carrying S5n gene were transplanted with 20 × 15 cm spacing, in three replication following a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Twelve rows subplot of each progeny with 15 plants/row were planted. The phenotypic data were recorded for days to 50% flowering (DFF), plant height (cm), productive tillers (number), panicle length (cm), number of filled grains/panicle (number), 1000-grain weight (g), spikelet fertility (%) and grain type. The quality parameters were observed as grain size, kernel length before cooking (KLBC), kernel length after cooking (KLAC), kernel breadth before cooking (KBBC), kernel breadth after cooking (KBAC), length/breadth ratio (LBR), elongation ratio (ER), alkali spreading value (ASV) and aroma was estimated as mentioned in Gopalakrishnan et al. (2008).

Assessment of Wide Compatibility (WC) Trait

To estimate wide compatibility in the improved lines, each selected line was evaluated for their wide compatibility trait by progeny testing crossed with appropriate testers and by percentage pollen fertility and spikelet fertility analysis. Two independent crossing programmes were made with IR 58025WCB (possessing S5ⁿ gene) and IR 58025B (without S5ⁿ gene) with five indica testers (APO, IR36, IR 64, IR72, and Shan Huang Zhan 2), five japonica testers (CT9993, Kinmaze, Nipponbare, Tainung 67, and M 201) and five tropical japonica testers (Azucena, Banten, Calotoc Moroberekan, and IR68552-55-3-2) respectively to produce around 20-25 F₁ seeds per cross during Dry season 2014-15. At the time of flowering, spikelet samples from each genotype was collected in 70% alcohol, by removing the anthers from four random unopened spikelets and placed on glass slide in 1% I₂-KI solution. After crushing the anther on glass slide pollen came out and stained in I₂-KI solution. The pollen samples were then examined under a light microscope at 40X magnification. More than 200 pollen grains per sample were scored for pollen fertility. Pollen fertility (%) of plants was inferring the relative starch contents, calculated as the ratio of the number of stained pollen grains to the total number of counted pollen grains and multiplies by 100 (Virmani et al., 1997). The seed set in each main panicle was counted to calculate the percentage of spikelet fertility as the ratio of the number of filled spikelet in the panicle to the total number of spikelet in the panicle and multiplies by 100 (Singh et al., 2006).

Results

Introgression of Wide Compatibility (S5ⁿ) Gene into IR 58025B

Parental polymorphism analysis between recurrent parent IR 58025B and donor parents Dular with 486 SSR markers resulted in the identification of 258 polymorphic markers (53.09%) with more than 5 bp differences between the two lines. Out of 258 polymorphic markers, 91 uniformly distributed SSR markers with larger difference in the product size over the 12 rice chromosomes were used for background selection and percent recurrent parent genome recovery analysis. After confirming heterozygosity with S5-InDel marker and, the true F₁ plants were backcrossed with the recurrent parent IR 58025B to obtain BC₁F₁ plants. All the BC₁F₁ plants were screened with S5-InDel marker, and the with 417 bp allele in IR 58025B and 281 bp allele in Dular (S5ⁿ⁺⁺) were selected. A total of 960 plants were genotyped, of which 470 plants were wide compatibility (S5ⁿ⁺⁻) gene. Out of these 470 plants, 230 plants were found to be aroma (badh2⁺⁻) gene using nksbadh2 marker. The gene- based marker nksbadh2 showed 82 bp in IR 58025B possessing aroma (badh2⁺⁺) gene and 90 bp in Dular with the absence of aroma (badh2⁻) gene (Supplementary Figure 2). The BC₁F₁ plants showed S5ⁿ⁺⁻ and badh2⁺⁻ were also observed for their phenotypic similarity with the IR 58025B (the recurrent parent) to maintain the other agronomically important traits. For background genome recovery information of 14 selected BC₁F₁ plant progenies, a total 91 SSR markers were used. The percentage recurrent parent genome (RPG) recovery among the fourteen selected BC₁F₁ plants ranged from (70.32 to 74.72%). The best BC₁F₁ plant showed maximum recurrent genome recovery of 74.72% and was further selected for BC₂F₁ generation.

In BC₂F₁ generation, a total of 250 plants were genotyped for S5ⁿ gene, of which 126 plants possessing S5ⁿ⁺⁻ were identified. Out of these 126 plants, 60 were found to be aroma (badh2⁺⁻) gene. However, by agronomic and phenotypic evaluation, 14 plants possessing S5ⁿ⁺⁻ and badh2⁺⁻ were selected for background selection. Using 46 polymorphic SSRs, the percentage of RPG recovery ranged from 80.21 to 86.81%. The best BC₂F₁ plant, showed recovery of 86.81% was used for generation of BC₃F_1. On the basis of phenotypic data and background selection, four best plants (S5ⁿ⁺⁻ and badh2⁺⁻) having RPG recovery of 92.30%, 92.10, 91.10, and 90.40%, respectively were selfed to generate BC₃F₂ generation. In BC₃F₂ plants were also screened for S5ⁿ and badh2 genes to identify homozygous plants. Out of the 800 BC₃F₂ plants, 184 plants were S5ⁿ⁺⁺ gene. Of these 184 plants, only 46 plants were homozygous for S5ⁿ and devoid of badh2 genes (S5ⁿ⁺⁺/ badh2⁻). Additionally, 52 plants were homozygous for S5ⁿ and badh2 genes (S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁺⁺). Ten promising homozygous lines at BC₃F₅ generation were identified possessing desired grain type with agronomic trait similar to IR 58025B. Out of these 10 selected families, one family (IR 58025WCB−4-14-5-26-3-8-7) possessing the presence of homozygous for S5ⁿ and badh2 genes (S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁺⁺) and rest nine families possessing homozygous for S5ⁿ and devoid of badh2 genes (S5ⁿ⁺⁺/badh2⁻) was supported by phenotype of aroma and wide compatibility trait.

The genome-wide graphical genotype of the S5ⁿ carrier chromosome 6, field view and grain of improved family (IR 58025WCB-4-14-5-7-11-5-3) possessing S5ⁿ along with original parent was presented (Figure 1). The selected families were further subjected for agronomic and cooking quality trait evaluation in comparison to the recurrent parent. The total number of plants generated in each backcross generation and the percentage RPG recovery at each generation is given in Supplementary Table 3.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Field view of (A) IR 58025B and (B) improved IR 58025WCB possessing S5n gene; Grain of (C) IR 58025B and (D) IR 58025WCB; (E) Graphical genotypes of selected BC₃F₄ lines with respect to markers on S5ⁿ carrier chromosome 6. Among the 10 improved back cross derived lines, Line No. 3, 4, and 5 (IR 58025WCB−4-14-5-7-11-5-3, IR 58025WCB−4-14-7-20-5-10-5, and IR 58025WCB-4-14-5-26-3-8-7) has minimum linkage drag with maximum recurrent parent genome recovery.

Assessment of Improved Lines for Maintainer Ability and Wide Compatibility

Maintainer Ability

Using the criterion of percentage pollen fertility and percentage spikelet fertility, the maintainer ability of the F₁s derived from the cross between the selected 10 families and IR 58025A was assessed. It was observed that all the F₁s had 0% of pollen fertility and percentage spikelet fertility. As a result, it was confirmed the selected ten families displayed perfect maintainer behavior.

Wide Compatibility

Crossing of IR 58025B with the 5 indica, 5 japonica, and 5 tropical japonica testers produced F₁s with pollen fertility ranged from 75 to 85, 35 to 93, and 25 to 68% and spikelet fertility ranged from 75 to 86, 29 to 62, and 51 to 70%, respectively. A significant improvement was observed in spikelet fertility percentage while crossing the improved maintainer line with S5ⁿ gene (IR 58025WCB-4-14-5-7-11-5-3) with the japonica and tropical japonica testers but the similar result with indica testers (Table 1). The pollen and spikelet fertility of F₁s while using improved maintainer lines ranged from 73 to 88, 60 to 88, and 37 to 82%, and 78 to 88, 68 to 86, and 68 to 73%, for indica, japonica and tropical japonica testers, respectively. The estimated groups mean pollen percentage increase while using improved maintainer lines with indica, japonica and tropical japonica testers were 3, 13, and 36% respectively; and for spikelet fertility percentage increase 2, 77, and 15% respectively. Pollen and spikelet fertility in F₁ with indica, japonica and tropical japonica testers are presented in Figure 2.

TABLE 1

Table 1. The comparison of percentage pollen fertility (% PF) and spikelet fertility (% SF) in F₁s of crosses involving IR 58025B and IR 58025WCB possessing S5ⁿ gene with different sub-species of rice.

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Pollen and spikelet fertility in F₁ of (A) IR 58025B/IR 36; (B) IR 58025WCB/IR 36; (C) IR 58025B/Tainung 67; (D) IR 58025WCB/Tainung 67; (E) IR 58025B/ IR 68552-55-3-2; (F) IR 58025WCB/IR 68552-55-3-2, respectively.

Assessment of Improved Maintainer Lines for Agronomic Trait

Comparative analysis of backcross-derived improved lines with the recurrent parent showed on part performance for the majority of the traits (Table 2). The date of 50% flowering (DFF) of the improved lines ranged from 92 to 95 days with an average of 94 days similar to that of IR 58025B. The plant height among the families ranged from 93.54 to 95.88 cm in comparison to 93.21 cm of IR58025B. All the selected families showed a significant number of higher effective tillers/plant (13.33–15.17) and filled grain per panicle ranged and from 180.50 to 205.17 in comparison to 13.40 effective tillers/plant and 167.20 filled grain per panicle in IR58025B, respectively. Panicle length among selected families ranged from 25.56 to 26.68 cm in comparison to 25.32 cm in IR58025B. Spikelet fertility (> 75.46%) and test weight (> 20.16 g) of the derived lines was higher in comparison to 74.72% of spikelet fertility and 18.50 g of test weight in IR58025B. The yield advantage of improved lines ranged from 0.19 % to 7.24 % over recurrent parent. Comparative analysis of the datasets of backcross derived lines was helpful to find out the transgressive segregant for plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, filled grains /panicle, percentage spikelet fertility, 1,000 grain weight and yield (q/ha) (Table 2).

TABLE 2

Table 2. Agronomic performance of the improved IR 58025WCB lines possessing wide compatibility trait.

Grain and Cooking Quality of IR 58025WCB Lines

The kernel breadth before cooking (KLBC) and kernel length after cooking (KLAC) of the selected ten improved families ranged from 7.03 to 7.32 mm in comparison to 6.96 mm in IR 58025B and 7.46 to 8.65 mm in comparison to 8.15 mm of IR 58025B, respectively (Table 3). All the selected families showed same alkali spreading value (ASV) score of 6 with that of the recurrent parent, IR58025B. The family (IR 58025WCB -4-14-5-26-3-8-7) showed similar aroma (score of 1) like IR58025B, while rest nine families showed the absence of aroma (score of 0). The elongation ratio in the improved lines ranged from 1.04 to 1.20 in comparison to 1.17 in IR 58025B and 1.18 of Dular.

TABLE 3

Table 3. Grain and cooking quality traits of the improved IR 58025WCB lines possessing wide compatibility rait.

Discussion

The major objective of the present study is to introgress a wide compatibility gene, S5ⁿ into the background of a WA cytoplasm containing maintainer line, IR 58025B through marker-assisted backcross breeding coupled with rigorous phenotypic observation for improved agronomic traits and grain characteristics. The maintainer line used in the present study is a parent of more than 90% of hybrids released in India for commercial cultivations. Improvement of this line for wide compatible (WC) trait facilitate the development of new generation of hybrids with higher heterosis. Sundaram et al., (2010) have developed S5ⁿ gene-based functional marker (S5-InDel), which paved the path to transfer the alleles in any recurrent parent. Foreground selection of S5ⁿ gene was performed using S5-InDel marker, at seedling stage and very stringent phenotypic observation in favor of the recurrent parent phenotype especially yield and its related components, and grain characteristics followed by background analysis to develop and identify the improved version IR 58025WCB possessing S5ⁿ gene.

During agronomic trait evaluation, it was found that the developed advanced breeding lines of IR 58025WCB had similar days to 50% flowering data. The higher yield performance of the improved IR 58025WCB families was primarily observed due to an increase in panicle length, filled grain per panicle, grain yield, and test weight. However, the improved IR 58025B lines with S5ⁿ gene showed higher percent spikelet fertility, indicating no linkage drag effect while transferring the S5ⁿ gene locus. The L/B ratio of all improved lines possessing S5ⁿ gene is not statistically significant as compared to IR 58025B. Out of ten, two improved families possessing S5ⁿ gene showed elongation ratio different and statistically significant and eight improved families showed not statistically significant, as compare to IR 58025B. Out of ten, nine improved families possessing S5ⁿ gene showed the absence of aroma trait and one improved family showed the presence of aroma trait. The hybrids developed using IR 58025A (CMS lines) possess mild aroma, a trait which is not preferred in many parts of India, particularly in South India. The negative selection of aroma trait was done through eliminating the aroma alleles during MABB. We were able to identify plants that do not possess aroma (i.e., plants that are the absence of aroma trait with respect to the major gene for fragrance, badh2) at each generation by using a functional marker for aroma trait, viz. nksbadh2 marker (Singh et al., 2011). Thus, the selection for the negative alleles for badh2 resulted in the identification of plants which is devoid of aroma in the improved maintainer line possessing wide compatibility trait.

Ninety-one polymorphic SSR markers were used across the genome, distributed at an average interval of 4.27 Mb were employed to analyze the recovery of recurrent parent genome (RPG) in the IR 58025WCB families. The percentage recurrent parent genome recovery of the selected 10 introgression lines ranged from 94.51 to 98.90%. It was due to stringent phenotypic and background selection performed at each backcross generation. Further, foreground and background selections coupled with strict phenotypic observation were used to recover the recurrent parent genome (RPG) up to 97.3% in two backcross generations (Basavaraj et al., 2010). The high level of heterosis is limited in the cross of indica and japonica genotypes due to hybrid sterility in F₁. Improvement of IR 58025B with S5ⁿ gene overcome embrosac sterility, when crossed with the japonica testers. These lines showed improvement in both pollen and percent spikelet fertility in F₁s, which is generated from japonica and tropical japonica testers. But it was observed that, the percent spikelet fertility almost similar with the indica testers.

The cause of different level of expression in different background is epistasis or non-allelic interactions (Kubo and Yoshimura, 2000; Kubo et al., 2008). A different degree of expression of WC genes suggested the presence of modifier gene(s) and epistasis (Kumar and Chakrabarti, 2000). Wide compatible varieties (WCVs), when used as male parents exhibited positive effect regarding a number of spikelets/panicle and percentage spikelet fertility in their hybrids with indica and japonica testers (Vijaya Kumar et al., 1999). We have found higher spikelet fertility while crossing the improved maintainer lines with japonica and javanica testers. The derived lines possessing wide compatibility traits will be useful in overcoming the problem of intersubspecific hybrid sterility and exploitation of the strong indica-japonica heterosis (Guo et al., 2016). The lines possessing S5ⁿ was improved by 14.7–32.9% embryo-sac fertility in indica-japonica hybrids. (Mi et al., 2016). The improved lines showed similar maintainer, like IR 58025B when crossed with IR 58025A (WA-CMS line).

Based on the several reports it is clear that the commercially released hybrids (100+) available in India is indica (CMS and mostly IR58025A)-indica (many restorers) in nature. Further, development of high yielding next generation hybrids development of indica-japonica heterosis is one of the available options. Therefore, instead to improve the restorer line(s) (available large in number) with S5ⁿ, we have improved IR 58025A (CMS line of 90+ hybrids) which is highly stable having wild abortive cytoplasm, good combining ability and heterosis with different restores. Many released hybrids in India like KRH2, Sahyadri and DRRH1 by public sector and 6444 by private sector is using IR 58025A as one of the parent (ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, 2018). The improved lines may use as donor for wide compatibility trait in different background to improve indica-japonica better heterosis.

Conclusion

In the present study, S5ⁿ gene was introgressed in the IR 58025B and badh2 gene-based functional marker nksbadh2 used for the identification of improved lines with S5ⁿ gene and devoid of aroma trait by MABB. The IR 58025WCB possessing S5ⁿ gene was either similar or better in agronomic traits performance and grain characteristics compared to recurrent parent IR58025B. This work has offered an example for the combination of WC trait with and without aroma by MAS especially for the future development of WC japonica sterile line, although the possible range of the breeding application of indica sterile line with S5ⁿ may be largely limited by the pollinating characters of the corresponding japonica restorer for an inter-subspecific cross. The improved line may use for better exploitation of heterosis using indica/japonica derivative restorers. The development of new plant type and super rice breeding can be possible by combining desirable characters of indica genotypes such as grain shape, grain quality, plant texture, resistance to pest, with desirable characters of japonica genotypes such as lodging resistance, cold tolerance, high photosynthetic efficiency and early maturity and reciprocally through combination breeding into maintainers.

Author Contributions

RP, VS, and HA was involved in the design of the experiment. RP conducted the experiment, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; AS, DK, and KU helped in experimental work, and contributed to the manuscript modification. PS and VKS was involved in revising the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the funding support provided by the Barwale Foundation, Hyderabad. We are also thankful to Executive Director and Director of Barwale Foundation, Hyderabad for providing all the facilities for execution of this research work and all the encouragement and support.

Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2018.01051/full#supplementary-material

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