Male Sterility System in Vegetable Crops: Mechanism, Breeding Strategies and Applications

Vegetables are among the most extensively utilized utilised crops for exploiting heterosis to develop high-yielding hybrids. Male sterility, characterised by the absence of functional pollen while female gametes remain viable, occurs naturally through mutations or can be artificially induced. This paper aims to review male sterility systems in vegetable crops. This trait is instrumental in hybrid seed production, as it prevents self-pollination and facilitates cross-pollination. Various male sterility systems, including genic male sterility (GMS), cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and cytoplasmic-genic male sterility (CGMS), have been successfully utilised in numerous vegetable crops. While GMS has seen limited commercial application, CMS and CGMS systems have gained prominence in facilitating efficient hybrid development. Male sterility can be introduced into elite lines through conventional breeding methods such as backcrossing and is maintained using specific genetic and cytoplasmic combinations. Advances in biotechnology, including protoplast fusion and genetic engineering, have further enabled the development of novel male sterility systems. In India, research on transgenic male sterility is underway to expand its application in vegetable breeding programs. As the demand for high-yielding and uniform hybrids increases, the role of male sterility in crop improvement continues to gain significance. In conclusion, furthermore, incorporating biotechnological techniques into traditional breeding methods can help overcome existing constraints, hastening the development of improved hybrid crops.