The genetic mechanism of sex determination in the androdioecious flowering plant, Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae)

A series of experimental crosses was conducted to determine the genetic basis of sex determination in the androdioecious plant species, Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae). Sex determination in D. glomerata appears to be controlled by at least two loci. Males are homozygous recessive at both loci, whereas hermaphrodites have at least one dominant allele at either locus. However, the problem of sex determination has not been entirely resolved, as there appear to be two different linkage distances between the two sex determining loci (36 ± 4.5 cM and 6.7 + 1.5 cM). This was unexpected, and further studies will be conducted to determine the nature of this anomaly. This is the first report of the genetics of sex determination in an androdioecious plant.