Qian Zhu ^1,2,3 , Juan Li ^1,2,3 , Cui Zhang ^1,3 , Chunli Wang ^1,3 , Zilin Duan⁴ , Dongsun Lee ^1,2,3 , Lijuan Chen

1 Rice Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
2 The Key Laboratory for Crop Production and Smart Agriculture of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
3 College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
4 Yunnan Yuanfang Agricultural Science and Technology Limited Company, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Rice Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 1   
Received: 24 Nov., 2024    Accepted: 30 Dec., 2024    Published: 13 Jan., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Hybrid rice breeding has significantly enhanced rice productivity worldwide, primarily through the utilization of male sterility (MS) systems. This paper summarizes the current status and future prospects of identifying and functionally analyzing MS genes in hybrid rice. Various types of MS, including cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of WA, HL, BT, DT various subtypes, and genic male sterility (GMS), have been characterized, with specific genes and loci identified for their roles in sterility and fertility restoration. For instance, the novel Fujian Abortive CMS system, controlled by the mitochondrial gene FA182 and restored by the nuclear gene OsRf19, has simplified the breeding process by providing stable MS and single-gene fertility restoration. Additionally, the broadly and/or potentially utilized genes PMS3, TMS5, and HMS1, of photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility (PGMS), temperature-sensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) and humidity-sensitive genic male sterility (HGMS) have been mapped and functional studied , offering insights into their genetic control and potential for hybrid breeding. The identification of new fertility restorer genes, such as Rf18(t) and their chromosomal locations, further broadens our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying MS and fertility restoration. The use of novel strategies, such as combining CMS and GMS genes, has led to the creation of third-generation hybrid rice technology, which offers stable sterility and improved hybrid seed production. This review highlights the advancements in genetic mapping, molecular characterization, and the practical applications of MS genes in hybrid rice breeding, paving the way for future research and breeding strategies.

Hybrid rice; Male sterility (MS); Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS); Genic male sterility (GMS); Fertility restorer genes