Identification of Potential Restorers and Maintainers with High Zinc in Hybrid Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Hybrid rice technology can boost rice production to meet the demands of a growing population. However, the development of location-specific hybrids is hindered by a lack of restorer and maintainer lines. This study aimed to identify high-zinc restorers and maintainers by crossing six cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines with five testers using a line × tester mating design, and evaluating the resulting hybrids. Genotypes were categorized as restorers (> 80% spikelet fertility), partial restorers (20 to 79% spikelet fertility), partial maintainers (10-20% spikelet fertility) and maintainers (<10% spikelet fertility). The identified maintainers and restorers can play a pivotal role in hybrid rice development. Spikelet fertility percentage revealed that Zinco Rice was identified as a potential restorer for CMS 23A, CGZR -2 was identified as a potential restorer for CMS 64A, CGZR -1, CGZR -2 and DRR Dhan 45 were identified as potential restorers for JMS 13A. CGZR -1 was identified as a potential restorer for JMS 18A. CGZR -1 and Surabhi were identified as potential restorers for JMS 19A as their respective hybrids have registered more than 80% spikelet fertility. CGZR -2 was identified as a maintainer for CMS 23A and Zinco Rice was identified as a maintainer for JMS 18A as they have registered less than 10 % spikelet fertility.