STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL OF GENIC MALE STERILITY IN TOMATO AS A TOOL FOR POLLEN FLOW RESTRICTION

The present investigation outlines the possibilities for use of genic male sterility in tomato as a tool for pollen flow restriction. Three tomato lines (two genic male sterile; sporogenous controlled by gene ins 10 and functional, controlled by gene ps 2 as well as one fertile Ailsa Griag) were included in the study. Field experiments were performed on two locations (Southern Bulgaria and Western Bulgaria) that strongly differed in terms of maximal and minimal temperatures, humidity and windy days, during three consecutive years. Each one of the lines possesses at least two morphological marker genes that would facilitate the determination of eventual occurrence of cross or self-pollination in the studied lines. RAPD and SSR analyses were applied as well. On the base of the data from the field experiments and the molecular analyses it was found that no cross pollination by pollen originating from the sterile genotypes was defected in any of the locations. Both types of genic male sterility-sporogenous and functional might be determined as a potential tool for pollen flow restriction.