Cytoplasmic male steritiy in maize is due to defective

Options

A. Mitochondria
B. Lysosome
C. Golgi body
D. Leucoplast

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS)**:
- Cytoplasmic male sterility is a condition in which a plant is unable to produce functional pollen, leading to male sterility. In maize, this phenomenon is primarily linked to the genetic material found in the cytoplasm, particularly in organelles such as mitochondria.

2. **Identifying the Role of Organelles**:
- In plants, male fertility is influenced by both nuclear genes (located in the nucleus) and extra-nuclear genes (located in organelles). The two main organelles involved in this process are mitochondria and chloroplasts.

3. **Focusing on Mitochondria**:
- Mitochondria are known to contain genes that are crucial for male fertility. If there are defects in these mitochondrial genes, it can lead to male sterility in plants, including maize.

4. **Eliminating Other Organelles**:
- While lysosomes, Golgi bodies, and leucoplasts are important for various cellular functions, they do not play a direct role in male fertility in maize. Therefore, they can be ruled out as causes of cytoplasmic male sterility.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the understanding that defective mitochondrial genes are responsible for cytoplasmic male sterility in maize, the correct answer to the question is **defective mitochondria**.

**Final Answer**: Cytoplasmic male sterility in maize is due to defective **mitochondria**.

---