Fine mapping of the dominant female sterility gene and novel model of hybrid seed production in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata)

Hybrid breeding based on male sterility requires the removal of male parents, which is time- and labor-intensive; however, the use of female sterile male parent can solve this problem. In the offspring of distant hybridization between Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus, we obtained a mutant, 5GH12-279, which not only fails to generate gynoecium (thereby causing female sterility) but also has serrated leaves that could be used as a phenotypic marker in seedling screening. Genetic analysis revealed that this trait was controlled by a single dominant gene. Further analysis revealed that Bo2g005230, an orthologous gene of LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1 (LMI1) in Arabidopsis, was predicted as the candidate gene and was renamed BoLMI1c. Sequence analysis revealed that homoeologous exchange (HE) occurred within the BoLMI1c gene body of 5GH12-279, which resulted in the generation of a novel fusion transcript. Two pairs of primers, N5230-1F/1R and N5230-2F/2R, were designed and successfully used for the identification of different genotypes of BoLMI1c. Transcriptome analysis revealed that BoLMI1c orchestrates the expression of several related biological processes and transcription factors. Furthermore, we found that self-pollination with mason bees produced no seeds in 5GH12-279, whereas the near-isogenic line 5GH12-170 produced seeds that were normal. Therefore, a new labor-saving hybrid seed production system with no need to remove the male parents, which is especially important for mechanized harvest in the future, has been proposed. Our study provides a valuable source of dominant female sterility and suggests the potential utilization of the female sterile line in hybrid breeding for mechanized harvest.