A mitochondrial plasmid specifically associated with male sterility and its relation with other mitochondrial plasmids in Vicia faba L.

Summary Small supercoiled DNA molecules of Vicia faba were cloned and characterized by restriction mapping and molecular hybridization. The 1700 by S plasmid has been found to be specifically associated with the male sterile cytoplasms and exhibited large homologies with the other 1700 by F plasmid as shown by molecular cross hybridization. In one line bearing the male sterile 350 cytoplasm, a deleted mitochondrial plasmid of 1540 bp was observed and this plasmid derives from the 1700 bp S plasmid. Our results indicate therefore that three of the four plasmids analysed are closely related between each other.