The inheritance of two novel subgynoecious genes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), which is a vegetable crop, has served as the model system for sex expression in flowering plants, and the inheritance of sex expression in cucumber is well documented. However, the genetics of subgynoecism expression in cucumber had rarely been described. In this study, we investigated the inheritance of subgynoecious traits in cucumber plants with the inbred cucumber lines of subgynoecious (C. sativus L. var sativus cv 97-17 and S-2-98) as the materials. Genetic analysis had showed the two subgynoecious inbred lines were controlled by one pair of recessive gene and one pair of incompletely dominant gene, which were designated presently as mod-F2 and Mod-F1, respectively. Furthermore, the mod-F2 and Mod-F1 loci, which enhance the intensity of femaleness, also inherited independently with F and M genes.

Research highlights▶ We investigated the inheritance of subgynoecious traits in cucumber plants. ▶ The two subgynoecious inbred lines were controlled by one pair of recessive gene (mod-F2) and one pair of incompletely dominant gene (Mod-F1). ▶ The mod-F2 and Mod-F1 loci inherited independently with F and M genes.