Integrative control of plant sex determination: Genes, hormones, and environment

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science Pub Date : 2025-10-09 DOI:10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112800

Wei Li , Yiming Wang , Ronghua Qian , Yi Yao , Xiang Xue , Jie Chen , Jun Chu , Caihong Zhu , Suke Xu , Cheng Qi Yi , Xu Yang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Plant sex determination involves the integration of genetic networks, hormonal signaling and environmental cues. This review synthesizes current understanding, highlighting two conserved pathways for unisexual flower formation: Type I (post-initiation organ abortion) and Type II (primordial suppression). Floral organ identity is genetically orchestrated by the ABCDE model and specific sex-determining genes. The core hormonal mechanism centers on antagonistic interactions between gibberellin (promoting male) and ethylene (promoting female), mediated by regulators like DELLA and EIN3/EIN2. These hormones integrate endogenous balances and environmental signals to control downstream transcription factors and sex gene expression. Environmental factors such as light, temperature and nutrients can significantly modulate sex expression, often overriding genetic programs via epigenetic mechanisms (e.g.,photoperiod-induced DNA methylation) and metabolic shifts, enabling phenotypic plasticity for reproductive fitness. Despite advances, gaps remain in transcriptional regulation, network integration, and species-specific adaptations. Future work should integrate gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) and systems biology to deepen understanding of sexual plasticity by elucidating the transcriptional regulation of sex-determining genes and their interactions with hermaphroditic floral programs. This framework emphasizes unifying genetic hierarchies, hormonal dynamics and environmental plasticity for a comprehensive model.

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植物性别决定的综合控制：基因、激素和环境。

植物性别决定涉及遗传网络、激素信号和环境因素的整合。这篇综述综合了目前的认识，强调了单性花形成的两种保守途径：I型（起始后器官流产）和II型（原始抑制）。花器官的身份是由ABCDE模型和特定的性别决定基因在遗传上协调的。核心的激素机制集中在赤霉素（促雄）和乙烯（促雌）之间的拮抗相互作用，由DELLA和dein3 /EIN2等调节因子介导。这些激素整合内源性平衡和环境信号来控制下游转录因子和性别基因的表达。环境因素如光、温度和营养物质可以显著调节性别表达，通常通过表观遗传机制（如光周期诱导的DNA甲基化）和代谢变化凌驾于遗传程序之上，从而实现生殖适应性的表型可塑性。尽管取得了进展，但在转录调控、网络整合和物种特异性适应方面仍存在差距。未来的工作应该整合基因编辑（如CRISPR-Cas9）和系统生物学，通过阐明性别决定基因的转录调控及其与两性花程序的相互作用，加深对性可塑性的理解。该框架强调统一遗传层次、激素动力学和环境可塑性的综合模型。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Plant Science 生物-生化与分子生物学

CiteScore

9.10

自引率

1.90%

发文量

322

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： Plant Science will publish in the minimum of time, research manuscripts as well as commissioned reviews and commentaries recommended by its referees in all areas of experimental plant biology with emphasis in the broad areas of genomics, proteomics, biochemistry (including enzymology), physiology, cell biology, development, genetics, functional plant breeding, systems biology and the interaction of plants with the environment. Manuscripts for full consideration should be written concisely and essentially as a final report. The main criterion for publication is that the manuscript must contain original and significant insights that lead to a better understanding of fundamental plant biology. Papers centering on plant cell culture should be of interest to a wide audience and methods employed result in a substantial improvement over existing established techniques and approaches. Methods papers are welcome only when the technique(s) described is novel or provides a major advancement of established protocols.