Xue Huang¹ , Xi Chen² , Degang Zhao^1,2

1 National-local Joint Engineering Research Center of Karst Region Plant Resources Utilization & Breeding (Guizhou), College of Life Sciences/Institute of AgroBioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
2 Plant Conservation & Breeding Technology Center, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology/Guizhou Institute of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, Guizhou, China
Author    Correspondence author
Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 4   
Received: 15 Jul., 2024    Accepted: 17 Aug., 2024    Published: 25 Aug., 2024

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.

Eucommia ulmoides, a dioecious tree species endemic to China, holds significant medicinal and economic value. This study delves into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying sex differentiation in E. ulmoides. Utilizing advanced genomic technologies, a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for both male and female E. ulmoides was achieved, revealing key insights into sex differentiation. Comparative transcriptome analyses identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between male and female individuals, highlighting the role of MADS-box transcription factors and specific genes such as EuAP3 and EuAG in sex determination. Additionally, molecular markers linked to sex determination were developed, facilitating early sex identification and improving breeding efficiency. The findings from this study provide a valuable genomic resource for further molecular biological studies and practical applications in the breeding and commercial production of E. ulmoides.

Eucommia ulmoides; Sex differentiation; MADS-box transcription factors; Genomic assembly; Molecular markers