To find plus tree clones of
Cryptomeria japonica that are heterozygous for a male-sterility gene (
Aa), we crossed a homozygous male-sterile tree (
aa) with 63 clones. Male sterility in this case is controlled by a recessive allele at a single gene locus and is expressed only in homozygotes. All F
1 seedlings obtained by crossing the male-sterile mother tree and 62 out of the 63 clones produced pollen. In contrast, F
1 seedlings obtained from the crossing between the male-sterile mother tree and a plus tree clone, Ohara 13, produced 64 male-sterile individuals and 52 fertile individuals. The segregation ratio fitted the expected 1 : 1 ratio according to a chi-square test. These results clearly demonstrate that the Ohara 13 clone is heterozygous for a male-sterility gene.
Key words Allergic disease - Cryptomeria japonica D. Don - Male-sterility gene - Plus tree