Genetics of sex determination in flowering plants

• Published in: Trends in plant science Vol. 2; no. 4; pp. 130 - 136
• Main Authors: Lebel-Hardenack, Sabine, Grant, Sarah R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.04.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biology and morphogenesis of the reproductive apparatus. Photoperiodism, vernalisation; Economic plant physiology; Flowering, floral biology, reproduction patterns; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth and development; Plant physiology and development; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification; Zea mays; Monocotyledones; Vegetals; Zea mays; Review; Gene expression; Cereal crop; Floral biology; Gramineae; Sex determination; Angiospermae; Homeotic gene; Genetics; Plant growth substance; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/S1360-1385(97)01012-1

Although most flowering plant species are hermaphrodites, there are still a large number of species with unisexual flowers. Classical geneticists identified the genes that distinguish the sexes in many species, but, until recently, nothing was known about the molecular mechanisms involved. Knowledge of the genes that control floral organ identity in a broad range of angiosperms has now allowed detailed comparative expression studies. Intriguingly, the sex-related differences indicate that the mechanism of sex determination is not the same in all species. In addition, genes that affect the sexual expression of flowers have been cloned from maize, and the sequences of these indicate that they are involved in hormone metabolism.