Premium
Mutation in the gene encoding 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase 4 ( CitACS4 ) led to andromonoecy in watermelon
Author(s) -
Ji Gaojie,
Zhang Jie,
Zhang Haiying,
Sun Honghe,
Gong Guoyi,
Shi Jianting,
Tian Shouwei,
Guo Shaogui,
Ren Yi,
Shen Huolin,
Gao Junping,
Xu Yong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/jipb.12466
Subject(s) - gene , genetics , mutation , biology
Summary Although it has been reported previously that ethylene plays a critical role in sex determination in cucurbit species, how the andromonoecy that carries both the male and hermaphroditic flowers is determined in watermelon is still unknown. Here we showed that the watermelon gene 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase 4 ( CitACS4 ), expressed specifically in carpel primordia, determines the andromonoecy in watermelon. Among four single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and one InDel identified in the coding region of CitACS4 , the C364W mutation located in the conserved box 6 was co‐segregated with andromonoecy. Enzymatic analyses showed that the C364W mutation caused a reduced activity in CitACS4. We believe that the reduced CitACS4 activity may hamper the programmed cell death in stamen primordia, leading to the formation of hermaphroditic flowers.