Reinvention of hermaphroditism via activation of a RADIALIS-like gene in hexaploid persimmon

Polyploidization or genome / gene duplication events are often associated with the plasticity in sexual systems, but the exact molecular mechanisms underlying these transitions are still mostly uncharacterized. Persimmons (or the genus Diospyros) have evolved dioecy via lineage-specific paleo-duplications. More recently, hexaploid D. kaki, or Oriental persimmon, has established a monoecious phenotype, and often also exhibits reversions from male to hermaphrodite flowers, in response to natural environmental signals (Natural Hermaphroditism, NH), or to artificial cytokinin treatment (Artificial Hermaphroditism, AH). In this study, we sought to identify the molecular pathways underlying these polyploid-specific reversions to hermaphroditic flowers in D. kaki.