Molecular approach to the study of sex determination in cucucmber plants

S. Yamasaki, N. Fujii, H. Takahashi, H. Mizusawa, S. Matsuura

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Sex determination in cucumber (Cucumis sativus ) plants is genetically controlled by the F and M loci. The F and M loci interact to produce three different sex phenotypes: gynoecious (M-F-), monoecious (M-ff), and andromonoecious (mmff). We found that the levels of ethylene production and the accumulation of CS-ACS2 mRNA in andromonoecious cucumber plants did not differ from those in monoecious plants and were less than the levels measured in gynoecious plants. Ethylene inhibited stamen development in monoecious cucumber but not in andromonoecious one. To investigate the action mechanism of ethylene in the induction of femaleness of cucumber flowers, we isolated three ethylene-receptor-related genes, CS-ETR1, CS-ETR2 and CS-ERS. Ethylene caused substantial increases in the accumulation of CS-ETR2, CS-ERS, and CS-ACS2 mRNA in monoecious cucumber plants, but not in andromonoecious plants. These results suggest that ethylene responses in andromonoecious cucumber plants are reduced compared to those in monoecious plants. This is the first evidence that ethylene signals may mediate the product of the M locus to inhibit stamen development in cucumber. The andromonoecious line provides novel material to study the function of the M locus during sex determination of flowers in cucumber plants.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationII International Symposium on Cucurbits
PublisherInternational Society for Horticultural Science
Pages309-312
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9789066057760
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Publication series

NameActa Horticulturae
Volume588
ISSN (Print)0567-7572

Keywords

  • Cucumis sativus
  • Ethylene
  • Ethylene receptor
  • M locus
  • Sex expression

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