PJB-2024-68
Hermaphroditism in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa): A Mini-Review
Shashi K. Sharma
Abstract
Actinidia, the kiwifruit is approximately 20 to 26 million years old. It is known widely for its dioecious nature. Recently, hermaphroditism has also been found to exist in its male inconstant type. Its floral development follows the common (A)BCE floral model and is completed in seven distinct stages. Male parts of the flower develop early during the third stage whereas programmed cell death leads to pollen degeneration in female flowers at the later stages. After exploring the sex-linked segment of the genome, it was determined that the Y-encoded sex-determinant genes Shy Girl and Friendly Boy act independently as the suppressors of feminization and promoters of male factors, respectively. Non-expression of Shy Girl in males results in the formation of hermaphrodites; however, the incorporation of Friendly Boy in female plants can also result in hermaphroditism in this fruit crop. These findings have opened new possibilities for generating self-pollinating hermaphrodite vines of high horticultural importance.
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