Sexual Dimorphism in Androdioecious Mercurialis annua, a Wind-Pollinated Herb

2011 ◽  
Vol 172 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elze Hesse ◽  
John R. Pannell
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Mercurialis Annua

scholarly journals Sexual Dimorphism in the Response of Mercurialis annua to Stress

Metabolites ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezra Orlofsky ◽  
Giorgi Kozhoridze ◽  
Lyudmila Lyubenova ◽  
Elena Ostrozhenkova ◽  
J. Winkler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Mercurialis Annua

scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism and rapid turnover in gene expression in pre-reproductive seedlings of a dioecious herb

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (7) ◽  
pp. 1119-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume G Cossard ◽  
Melissa A Toups ◽  
John R Pannell
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Dioecious Plants ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Annual Herb ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
Angiosperm Species ◽  
Differential Costs ◽  
Mercurialis Annua

Abstract Background and Aims Sexual dimorphism in morphology, physiology or life history traits is common in dioecious plants at reproductive maturity, but it is typically inconspicuous or absent in juveniles. Although plants of different sexes probably begin to diverge in gene expression both before their reproduction commences and before dimorphism becomes readily apparent, to our knowledge transcriptome-wide differential gene expression has yet to be demonstrated for any angiosperm species. Methods The present study documents differences in gene expression in both above- and below-ground tissues of early pre-reproductive individuals of the wind-pollinated dioecious annual herb, Mercurialis annua, which otherwise shows clear sexual dimorphism only at the adult stage. Key Results Whereas males and females differed in their gene expression at the first leaf stage, sex-biased gene expression peaked just prior to, and after, flowering, as might be expected if sexual dimorphism is partly a response to differential costs of reproduction. Sex-biased genes were over-represented among putative sex-linked genes in M. annua but showed no evidence for more rapid evolution than unbiased genes. Conclusions Sex-biased gene expression in M. annua occurs as early as the first whorl of leaves is produced, is highly dynamic during plant development and varies substantially between vegetative tissues

scholarly journals A ghost of dioecy past and the legacy of sexual dimorphism: low siring success of hermaphrodites after the breakdown of dioecy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Santos del Blanco ◽  
Eleri Tudor ◽  
John R. Pannell
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Evolutionary Models ◽  
Evolutionary Transitions ◽  
Sexual Specialization ◽  
Siring Success ◽  
Mercurialis Annua

AbstractEvolutionary transitions from dioecy to hermaphroditism must overcome the inertia of sexual dimorphism because modified males or females will express the opposite sexual function for which their phenotypes have been optimized. We tested this prediction by comparing the siring success of female-derived hermaphrodites of the plant Mercurialis annua with males and hermaphrodites that present a male-like inflorescence. We found that pollen dispersed by female-derived hermaphrodites was about a third poorer at siring outcross offspring than that from hermaphrodites with male-like inflorescences, illustrating the notion that a ‘ghost of dioecy past’ compromises the fitness of derived hermaphrodites in outcrossing populations. We conclude that whereas dioecy might evolve from hermaphroditism by conferring upon individuals certain benefits of sexual specialization, reversals from dioecy to hermaphroditism must often be limited to situations in which outcrossing cannot be maintained and inbreeding is favored. Our study provides novel empirical support for evolutionary models for the breakdown of dioecy.

scholarly journals Epigenetics of floral homeotic genes in relation to sexual dimorphism in the dioecious plant Mercurialis annua

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janardan Khadka ◽  
Narendra Singh Yadav ◽  
Micha Guy ◽  
Gideon Grafi ◽  
Avi Golan-Goldhirsh
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Specific Factor ◽  
Homeotic Genes ◽  
Dioecious Plant ◽  
Floral Homeotic Genes ◽  
Class B ◽  
Gender Specific ◽  
Female Flowers ◽  
Mercurialis Annua ◽  
Floral Homeotic

AbstractIn plants, dioecy characterizes species carrying male and female flowers on separate plants and occurs in about 6% of angiosperms. To date, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying sexual dimorphism is essentially unknown. The ability of gender-reversal by hormone application suggests that epigenetics might play an important role in sexual dimorphism. Proteome analysis of nuclei derived from flower buds of females, males and feminized males of the dioecious plant Mercurialis annua revealed differentially expressed proteins related to nucleic acid binding proteins, hydrolases and transcription factors, including floral homeotic genes. Further analysis showed that class B genes are mainly expressed in male flowers, while class D genes, as well as SUPERMAN-like genes, were mainly expressed in female flowers. Cytokinin-induced feminization of male plants was associated with down-regulation of male-specific genes concomitantly with up-regulation of female-specific genes. No correlation could be found between the expression of class B and D genes and their DNA methylation or chromatin conformation. Thus, our results ruled out epigenetic control over floral identity genes as the major determinants regulating sexual dimorphisms. Rather, determination of sex in M. annua might be controlled upstream of floral identity genes by a gender-specific factor that affects hormonal homeostasis.HighlightsSex determination in Mercurialis annua is not related to epigenetics of floral homeotic genes but appears to be modulated by an unknown gender-specific regulator(s) that affects hormonal homeostasis.

scholarly journals Epigenetic aspects of floral homeotic genes in relation to sexual dimorphism in the dioecious plant Mercurialis annua

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (21) ◽  
pp. 6245-6259
Author(s):  
Janardan Khadka ◽  
Narendra Singh Yadav ◽  
Micha Guy ◽  
Gideon Grafi ◽  
Avi Golan-Goldhirsh
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Homeotic Genes ◽  
Chromatin Conformation ◽  
Dioecious Plant ◽  
Floral Homeotic Genes ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Gender Specific ◽  
Mercurialis Annua ◽  
Floral Homeotic

Sex-determination in Mercurialis annua is not related to chromatin conformation or DNA methylation of floral homeotic genes but might be regulated upstream of these genes by one or more unknown gender-specific factors that affect hormonal homeostasis.

RHYNCHOLITES AND THE PROBLEM OF NARROW AND BROAD CONCEPTION OF TAXONS

2018 ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Khuzina ◽  
V. N. Komarov
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Artificial System ◽  
Broad Understanding

The paper considers a point of view, based on the conception of the broad understanding of taxons. According to this point of view, rhyncholites of the subgenus Dentatobeccus and Microbeccus are accepted to be synonymous with the genus Rhynchoteuthis, and subgenus Romanovichella is considered to be synonymous with the genus Palaeoteuthis. The criteria, exercising influence on the different approaches to the classification of rhyncholites, have been analyzed (such as age and individual variability, sexual dimorphism, pathological and teratological features, degree of disintegration of material), underestimation of which can lead to inaccuracy. Divestment of the subgenuses Dentatobeccus, Microbeccus and Romanovichella, possessing very bright morphological characteristics, to have an independent status and denomination to their synonyms, has been noted to be unjustified. An artificial system (any suggested variant) with all its minuses is a single probable system for rhyncholites. The main criteria, minimizing its negative sides and proving the separation of the new taxon, is an available mass-scale material. The narrow understanding of the genus, used in sensible limits, has been underlined to simplify the problem of the passing the view about the genus to the other investigators and recognition of rhyncholites for the practical tasks.

Observation on the breeding biology of Polypedates teraiensis (Dubois, 1987) (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Jacinta Lalchhanhimi ◽  
Lalremsanga H.T.
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Morphometric Measurements ◽  
Advertisement Calls ◽  
Males And Females

The breeding biology of tree frog, Polypedates teraiensis was studied during the breeding season at Mizoram University Campus. It was found that sound production by male during the breeding season was primarily a reproductive function and advertisement calls attract females to the breeding areas and announce other males that a given territory is occupied. The aim of this study was to provide the detailed information on the breeding behaviour and the advertisement calls of Polypedates teraiensis. The morphometric measurements of the amplecting pairs (males and females) for sexual dimorphism along with clutch sizes were also studied.

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