~ 1029 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(3): 1029-1034 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2018; 7(3): 1029-1034 Received: 03-03-2018 Accepted: 06-04-2018 Ishfaq Abidi Directorate of Research SKUAST-Kashmir Shalimar Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India G Ali Division of Plant breeding and Genetics SKUAST-Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India ZA Dar Dryland Karewa Agricultural Research Station SKUAST- Kashmir, Budgam, Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India Shabir H Wani Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops, Khudwani SKUAST-Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India SA Dar Dryland Karewa Agricultural Research Station SKUAST- Kashmir, Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India Asima Gazal Division of Plant breeding and Genetics SKUAST-Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India Correspondence Ishfaq Abidi Directorate of Research SKUAST-Kashmir Shalimar Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Genetic studies on CMS/FR system in maize ( Zea mays L.) for hybrid production under temperate climate conditions Ishfaq Abidi, G Ali, ZA Dar, Shabir H Wani, SA Dar and Asima Gazal Abstract In the present study male sterility genes and their/fertility restorers were identified in different populations of maize and inheritance of (FR) fertility restoration gene (s) in an indigenously identified cytosterile source in maize (Zea mays L.) investigated to determine the nature and magnitude of gene effects on various quantitative and qualitative traits governing maize cultivation and productivity under tempertate hills of Himalayan Kashmir. For inheritance studies of fertility restoration both visual scoring/scoring with Becket’s Scale-1 was undertaken to establish inheritance of fertility-restoration genes. The dominance nature of fertility restoration gene(s) in F1 was observed in attempted crosses whereas gene(s) for sterility exhibited recessive nature. The scoring results substantiated staining results for ascertaining inheritance of pollen fertility. Fertility restoration was observed to be governed by dominant genes (monogenic) in nature. Cytogenetic and genetic analysis was carried out after attempting a cross viz. 15C (A) x I-318(R) using three line ABR- system of hybrid development utilizing all six generations viz., P1, P2 and F1 having 30 plants each and F2 (300 plants), BC1 (180 plants) and BC2 (180 plants) in the cross, suggesting possibility of production of successful commercial hybrids in Zea mays L. by using this indigenous CMS/FR line system as parental source. Keywords: temperate, conditions, CMS/FR, maize Introduction Globally maize is the 3 rd important cereal crop after wheat and rice in terms of total area 147 million hectare, but ranks first with respect to productivity (38.20 q ha -1 ) and production (604 million tonnes) (Anonymous, 2008a). About 2/3 rd of maize area is in developing countries where maize is widely grown for human consumption. It is a staple food of more than 200 million people in Latin American and African countries and an important constituent of food for more than 400 million people world over. The crop is bestowed with unmatched adaptability across diverse agro-ecological situations extending between 55 o N and 55 o S (Shaw, 1988 and Doswell et al. 1996) [4] . Being a C4 plant maize has more yield potential than rice and wheat because of better physiological efficiency. More widespread and extensive use of hybrid technology stands as a very effective means of achieving growth in yield on the current maize area under high hills of temperate regions ensuring higher yields, and contributing to most needed land conservationefforts.| the major challenge impeding the wide adoption of hybrid maize, in developing countries has been the cost consideration. There is urgent need of evolving breeding strategies that shall be instrumental in reducing the production costs and susequently make available alternate options for farmers to produce hybrid maize under temperate hills of high mountainous Himalayan range. Cytoplasmic male sterility (genetic emasculation) therefore, has been looked since long back as a sound and sustainable alternative to bring down the hybrid seed production costs (Ducvick, 1965) [5] , besides adding purity to the end product. Moreover beneficial effects of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) on grain production in maize have also been documented (Weingatner et al. 2002) [4] . Maize is confirmed to show a great vigour of hybrid by outcross, of the three CMS sources C (charrua), S (USDA) and T (Texas), CMS-T was used extensively for hybrid seed production of maize in USA from 1950-70. After that its use was abandoned following the epidemic of maydis leaf blight (Bipolarismaydis) (Pass) raceT. Consequently, emphasis shifted to the diversification of CMS sources in various crops including maize to avoid the potential vulnerability on account of use of a single CMS source (monoculture) over a wide area. This envisages the critical evaluation of new CMS sources for different