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Gene networks orchestrated by Me GI : a single‐factor mechanism underlying sex determination in persimmon
Author(s) -
Yang HoWen,
Akagi Takashi,
Kawakatsu Taiji,
Tao Ryutaro
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.14202
Subject(s) - biology , gynoecium , plant reproductive morphology , homeobox , gene , transcription factor , genetics , retrotransposon , dlx5 , microbiology and biotechnology , stamen , botany , genome , transposable element , pollen
Summary Separating male and female sex organs is one of the main strategies used to maintain genetic diversity within a species. However, the genetic determinants and their regulatory mechanisms have been identified in only a few species. In dioecious persimmons, the homeodomain transcription factor, Me GI , which is the target of a Y chromosome‐encoded small‐ RNA , OGI , can determine floral sexuality. The basic features of this system are conserved in the monoecious hexaploid Oriental persimmon, in which an additional epigenetic regulation of Me GI determines floral sexuality. The downstream regulatory pathways of Me GI remain uncharacterized. In this study, we examined transcriptomic data for male and female flowers from monoecious persimmon cultivars to unveil the gene networks orchestrated by Me GI . A network visualization and cistrome assessment suggested that class‐1 KNOTTED ‐like homeobox ( KNOX )/ovate family protein ( OFP )/growth regulating factors ( GRF s) and short vegetative phase ( SVP ) genes mediate the differences in gynoecium and androecium development between male and female flowers, respectively. The expression of these genes is directly controlled by Me GI . The gene networks also suggested that some cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellin signaling genes function cooperatively in the KNOX / OFP / GRF pathway during gynoecium differentiation. Meanwhile, SVP may repress PI expression in developing androecia. Overall, our results suggest that Me GI evolved the ability to promote gynoecium development and suppress androecium development by regulating KNOX / OFP / GRF and SVP expression levels, respectively. These insights may help to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying the production of unisexual flowers, while also elucidating the physiological background enabling a single‐factor system to establish dioecy in plants.