The orfl38 gene, which is specific to Ogura male-sterile cytoplasm, was analysed in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ofthe wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern hybridization and sequencing. The effect of R. raphanistrum cytoplasm on the expression of male sterihty was also examined in progeny with R. sativus. A PCR-aided assay and Southern hybridization revealed that three out of six strains analysed included plants with orfl38. The sequence of wild type orfl38 was same as that of Ogura, except for one or two nucleotide substitutions. Southern hybridization showed a novel mtDNA configuration in R. raphanistrum, in addition to the normal and Ogura types identical to those in R. sativus.Among interspecific hybrids, all the F, had normal pollen fertihty. In the F2 progeny between female wild plants having orfl38 and the maintainer of Ogura male sterihty, male-sterile plants were segregated, fitting the ratio of 3 fertile: 1 sterile plant. R. raphanistrum has cytoplasm that induces male sterihty in radishes, and contains a dominant fertiUty restorer gene.