Subfunctionalization of <i>CpSVP-Y</i> Paralog Contributes to Male Reproductive Fitness in Papaya.

ABSTRACT: Papayas possess three sex genotypes: female XX, male XY, and hermaphrodite XY^h. Only male plants produce long peduncles with numerous flowers, a trait that improves reproductive success. The gene SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (CpSVP) is located on the Y chromosome, absent from the X chromosome, and disrupted in the Y^h chromosome, making it a key candidate gene for long peduncles in male plants. An autosomal CpSVP allele (CpSVP-A) was also annotated in a papaya genome. The overexpression of the male allele in Arabidopsis increases pedicel length, which supports its role in pedicel elongation. Unexpectedly, the autosomal allele CpSVP-A produced a similar phenotype as the male one, while the hermaphroditic allele (CpSVP-Y^h

SUBMITTER: Nguyen-Edquilang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12939097 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature