Polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA 'S' regions among normal cytoplasms of maize

Genomic variation in S1 and S2 homologous sequences, defined as the S regions, were examined in mitochondrial DNAs of 12 normal cytoplasm maize lines collected in the United States. Three genomic variants were detected among the 12 cytoplasms, eight of which were identical to the Wf9 model structure. Hybridization data with S1 and S2 DNAs and with two cosmids spanning these regions were consistent with the concept that S1 and S2 sequences are found in each normal cytoplasm. Three variations of the S1 region were established; the Wf9 structure, a second group consisting of F6, A188, and W182BN, and a third, Black Mexican. Genome structure was conserved through the S2 region in all lines examined. None of the cytoplasms included complete copies of S1; the 1400 bp repeat characteristic of S1 and S2 was absent in the S1 region of all lines. A 2.1 kb linear DNA was observed instead of a 2.3 kb DNA in F6, A188, and W182BN. Integrated copies of S1 and S2 sequences may be a constituitive characteristic of normal, male-fertile maize cytoplasms.