Epigenetic Regulation of the Sex Determination Gene MeGI in Polyploid Persimmon

Takashi Akagi, Isabelle M. Henry, Takashi Kawai, Luca Comai, Ryutaro Tao

What happens when a dioecious species with X and Y chromosomes becomes polyploid? Cultivated persimmon does just that, managing to turn males into monoecious plants via epigenetic regulation of the sex determination gene MEGI. Epigenetic regulation provides flexibility for a polyploid with sex chromosomes.