The investigation was carried out to identify the potential maintainers and restorers in rice by crossing the one CMS line with 65 selected genotypes during rabi 2012-13. The resultant 65 test crosses were evaluated during kharif 2013. A high range of spikelet fertility was recorded among the hybrids ., from 0 to per cent which indicated that restorability varies depending on male parent. Among the 65 test crosses studied, 28 genotypes exhibited high spikelet fertility (>75%), 20 were partial fertile (50 to 75 %), whereas 14 genotypes were partial maintainers (1 to 50 %) and three genotypes were found to be completely sterile (0 %). The identified maintainers can be developed as new cytoplasmic male sterile lines by repeated back cross breeding with recurrent parent. Among the 28 restorers identified, 12 best restorers with more than 80 per cent spikelet fertility were selected for further use in hybrid rice breeding. | Evaluation of test crosses for identification of potential restorers and maintainers for development of rice hybrids (Oryza sativa L.)
