A convergent mechanism of sex determination in dioecious plants: Distinct sex-determining genes display converged regulation on floral B-class genes

Sex determination in dioecious plants has been broadly and progressively studied with the blooming of genome sequencing and editing techniques. This provides us with a great opportunity to explore the evolution and genetic mechanisms underlining the sex-determining system in dioecious plants. In this study, comprehensively reviewing advances in sex-chromosomes, sex-determining genes, and floral MADS-box genes in dioecious plants, we proposed a convergent model that governs plant dioecy across divergent species using a cascade regulation pathway connecting sex-determining genes and MADS-box genes e.g., B-class genes. We believe that this convergent mechanism of sex determination in dioecious plants will shed light on our understanding of gene regulation and evolution of plant dioecy. Perspectives concerning the evolutionary pathway of plant dioecy are also suggested.

Automated summary

With the advancement of genome sequencing and editing techniques, sex determination in dioecious plants has been extensively studied. This study comprehensively reviews the progress in sex-chromosomes, sex-determining genes, and floral MADS-box genes in dioecious plants, and proposes a convergent model that connects sex-determining genes and MADS-box genes (such as B-class genes) through a cascade regulation pathway to elucidate plant dioecy. We believe that this convergent mechanism sheds light on the understanding of gene regulation and the evolution of plant dioecy, and presents perspectives on the evolutionary pathway of plant dioecy.