Efficiency of a novel gametocide amidosulfuron on rapeseed (Brassica napus)

The efficiency of a novel gametocide amidosulfuron, 1-(4, 6-dimethoxypyrimidin- 2-yl) -3-mesyl (methyl) sulfamoylurea, was evaluated on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Double application of 0.09-0.12 g/ha amidosulfuron at the uni-nucleate stage of longest buds and 12 days later, made 97.4-100% plants male-sterile in seventeen out of 20 cultivars tested. The shrunken anthers could not release pollen or produced only dysfunctional pollen grains that could not be stained by aceto carmine. The treatment also caused 10-30% reduction on seed setting in comparison to the controls. The purity of hybrid seed from crosses of 'C161 x Huaye' and 'Zhongshuang No.2 x Huaye' based on amidosulfuron was 99.8% and 100.0%, respectively. The results suggested that amidosulfuron is an efficient gametocide for B. napus.