Identification of a RAPD marker linked to sex determination in Momordica dioica Roxb.

Abstract

Sexual dimorphism is the rule in most animals. In plant kingdom however, dioecy is found only in 4% of the angiosperms. Dioecism has originated independently in different families and genera [1] and several distinct genetic mechanisms regulating dioecy have been found in different plant species [2, 3]. Sex is the queen problem in evolutionary biology and tracing of molecular factor(s) for sex expression has potential importance in basic and applied research. Sex determination mechanism in plants is not well understood. Neither the genetic nor the physiological basis of gender has been completely resolved in any plant species, in spite of the striking progress made over the floral development [4]. The presence of sex chromosomes has been documented in some plants [1]. More often, the sex ratio in dioecious plant species is controlled by the expression of alleles at one to several loci [2].