The processes of sex determination in persimmons are revealed by Genome Center researchers

Work by members of the Comai Lab in collaboration with researchers from Kyoto University in Japan have helped reveal the mechanism underlying sex determination in the persimmon fruit. Their paper, published in the journal Science, will greatly contribute to the understanding of the evolution of sex chromosome systems in higher plants. Co-author Isabelle Henry, speaking to the UC Davis News team, had this to say about the practical applications of the work:

"Separate sexes are the most effective way to produce plant hybrids, and hybrids are key to agricultural productivity. In the future, we may be able to breed dioecy into new species and facilitate hybrid production through exploitation of a natural system."

Persimmon fruit