Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 285-294 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 285 Research Insight Open Access Identification of Sex-Specific Markers inEucommia ulmoides Xi Chen1, YueYang2, Degang Zhao1,2 1 Plant Conservation & Breeding Technology Center, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology / Guizhou Institute of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, China 2 National-local Joint Engineering Research Center of Karst Region Plant Resources Utilization & Breeding (Guizhou), College of Life Sciences/Institute of Agro- Bioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China Corresponding email: dgzhao@gzu.edu.cn Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0028 Received: 23 Oct., 2024 Accepted: 25 Nov., 2024 Published: 03 Dec., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen X., Yang Y., and Zhao D.G., 2024, Identification of sex-specific markers in Eucommia ulmoides, Plant Gene and Trait, 15(6): 285-294 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0028) Abstract Eucommia ulmoides is a dioecious plant with significant ecological and economic value, but its sex is difficult to identify at the juvenile stage using traditional morphological methods, resulting in low breeding efficiency and affecting commercial cultivation. To address this challenge, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the application of several sex-specific molecular markers in sex identification of E. ulmoides, with a focus on the male-specific markers that have been identified, such as the MSL4 locus and the 247 bp SCAR marker. These molecular markers can accurately distinguish male and female individuals at an early developmental stage, demonstrating high reliability and stability. They offer significant advantages in improving breeding efficiency, accelerating seedling selection, and optimizing resource allocation. Furthermore, these markers play a crucial role in promoting the commercial cultivation and resource management of E. ulmoides, providing technical support for industry development. Future research will focus on optimizing the application of these molecular markers and exploring their potential in other dioecious plants. This study provides a strong theoretical basis and technical guidance for sex identification and molecular breeding in related species. Keywords Eucommia ulmoides; Sex-specific markers; Dioecious plants; Molecular breeding; Marker-assisted selection 1 Introduction Eucommia ulmoides, commonly known as the hardy rubber tree, is a dioecious species native to China, meaning it has distinct male and female individuals. This species is highly valued for its medicinal properties and its ability to produce rubber, making it economically significant (Du et al., 2023; You et al., 2023). However, one of the major challenges in cultivating E. ulmoides is the inability to determine the sex of the plants at the juvenile stage, which can last for several years. This limitation hinders efficient breeding and commercial production, as the pistillate (female) plants are generally more economically valuable than the staminate (male) plants. Recent advancements in molecular biology have provided new methods for early sex identification in E. ulmoides. Techniques such as Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) have been employed to develop sex-specific markers. These markers allow for the identification of male and female plants at an early developmental stage, thus facilitating more efficient breeding programs and resource allocation (Xu et al., 2004; Wang et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2020). The ability to determine the sex of individuals in dioecious plants like Eucommia ulmoides at an early developmental stage is crucial for several reasons. On one hand, it facilitates selective breeding programs aimed at improving desirable traits such as increased rubber yield and the production of medicinal compounds (Montgomery et al., 2019; Fu et al., 2020). Secondly, early sex identification can significantly improve the efficiency of commercial cropping by ensuring the optimal ratio of male to female plants, which is essential for maximizing yield and resource allocation. Traditional morphological methods for sex determination are often unreliable and time-consuming, necessitating the development of molecular markers for accurate and rapid sex identification (Wang et al., 2020; Du et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==