AN INDUCED FEMALE STERILE MUTANT IN ROSELLE (HIBISCUS-SABDARIFFA L)

A mutant phenotype in roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) cv. Jamaican Green (JG) was found when JG was treated with 0.6% and 0.8% ethyl methanesulfonate for six hours. Style and stigma were completely missing from the flowers produced by the mutant; however, ovules were present. Normal anthers with functional pollen that could be used for hybridization were produced by the mutant. This mutant phenotype in roselle, designated female sterile, is recessive to normal female fertile characteristics.