International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 438-450 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 448 economic properties, such as higher α-linolenic acid content. The identification of sex-specific genes and markers also opens up possibilities for genetic engineering to further optimize the traits of E. ulmoides for industrial use. Future research in sex determination in E. ulmoides should focus on further elucidating the complex genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in sexual differentiation. Advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools can be employed to identify additional sex-linked genes and regulatory pathways. Moreover, exploring the role of environmental factors and plant hormones in sex expression could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the sex determination process. Collaborative efforts integrating genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics will be crucial in developing a holistic view of sex determination in E. ulmoides. These insights can then be applied to other dioecious plants, potentially benefiting a wide range of agricultural and industrial applications. Funding This research was funded by a grant from the Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences Talent Special Project (No. 2023-02 and 2024-02), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (“863” Program) [grant number 2013AA102605-05], Talent Base for Germplasm Resources Utilization and Innovation of Characteristic Plant in Guizhou (RCJD2018-14). Acknowledgment The authors sincerely appreciate the comprehensive evaluation of the manuscript by two anonymous peer reviewers. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Akagi T., Henry I.M., Tao R., and Comai L., 2014, Plant genetics. A Y-chromosome-encoded small RNA acts as a sex determinant in persimmons, Science (New York, N.Y.), 346(6209): 646-650. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1257225 Akagi T., Pilkington S.M., Varkonyi-Gasic E., Henry I.M., Sugano S.S., Sonoda M., Firl A., McNeilage M.A., Douglas M.J., Wang T., Rebstock R., Voogd C., Datson P., Allan A.C., Beppu K., Kataoka I., and Tao R., 2019, Two Y-chromosome-encoded genes determine sex in kiwifruit, Nature Plants, 5(8): 801-809. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-019-0489-6 Bui T.L., Truong N.T., and Do T.K., 2024, The application of molecular marker in papaya sex determination: From the laboratory to the field, Scientia Horticulturae, 327: 112872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.112872 Chen J., Liu Q., Yu L., Korpelainen H., Niinemets Ü., and Li C., 2021, Elevated temperature and CO2 interactively modulate sexual competition and ecophysiological responses of dioecious Populus cathayana, Forest Ecology and Management, 481: 118747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.118747 Cronk Q., and Müller N.A., 2020, Default sex and single gene sex determination in dioecious plants, Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 1162. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.01162 Du Q., Wu Z., Liu P., Qing J., He F., Du L., Sun Z., Zhu L., Zheng H., Sun Z., Yang L., Wang L., and Du H., 2023, The chromosome-level genome of Eucommia ulmoides provides insights into sex differentiation and α-linolenic acid biosynthesis, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14: 1118363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1118363 Du J., Johnson L.M., Jacobsen S.E., and Patel D.J., 2015, DNA methylation pathways and their crosstalk with histone methylation, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 16(9): 519-532. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm4043 Engin H., and Gökbayrak Z., 2019, Effects of plant growth regulators on sex expression and flower development in pomegranates, Erwerbs-Obstbau, 61(1): 23-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-018-0384-8 Heikrujam M., Sharma K., Prasad M., and Agrawal V., 2015, Review on different mechanisms of sex determination and sex-linked molecular markers in dioecious crops: a current update, Euphytica, 201: 161-194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1293-z
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