Extranuclear Temperature-Sensitive Lethality in Nicotiana tabacum L

Tobacco seedlings from progeny of a single aberrant plant, either self-fertilized or used as the female in crosses, failed to become autotrophic at 13° day and 8° night temperatures, but grew normally at 26° day and 20° night temperatures. After initial normal growth at 26° day and 20° night temperatures, autotrophic plants from the aberrant line also died after subsequent exposure to 13° day and 8° night temperatures. The temperature-sensitive lethality was transmitted only through the female parent. When seedlings were grown at normal 26° day and 20° night temperatures, mutant selfs, normal selfs, and reciprocal F1 hybrids were indistinguishable.