Mutation in the gene encoding 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase 4 (CitACS4) led to andromonoecy in watermelon. Issue 9 (7th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ji, Gaojie; Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Haiying; Sun, Honghe; Gong, Guoyi; Shi, Jianting; Tian, Shouwei; Guo, Shaogui; Ren, Yi; Shen, Huolin; Gao, Junping; Xu, Yong
• Is Part Of: Journal of integrative plant biology. Volume 58:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 762
• Page End: 765
• Publication Date: 2016-04-07
• Subjects: 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid synthase -- Citrullus lanatus -- sex determination; Plants -- Periodicals; Plants -- China -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12466
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9072

Abstract

Summary: Although it has been reported previously that ethylene plays a critical role in sex determination in cucurbit species, how the andromonoecy that carries both the male and hermaphroditic flowers is determined in watermelon is still unknown. Here we showed that the watermelon gene 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase 4 ( CitACS4 ), expressed specifically in carpel primordia, determines the andromonoecy in watermelon. Among four single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and one InDel identified in the coding region of CitACS4, the C364W mutation located in the conserved box 6 was co‐segregated with andromonoecy. Enzymatic analyses showed that the C364W mutation caused a reduced activity in CitACS4. We believe that the reduced CitACS4 activity may hamper the programmed cell death in stamen primordia, leading to the formation of hermaphroditic flowers. Abstract : In this study, we showed that the watermelon gene 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase 4 ( CitACS4 ), expressed specifically in carpel primordia, determines the andromonoecy in watermelon. The C364W mutation of CitACS4 caused its reduced activity. We believe our results will be helpful in improving the breeding production in watermelon.