Sex Identification and Male–Female Differences in <i>Ginkgo Biloba</i> Hybrid F₁ Generation Seedlings

Abstract

In exploring the male–female differentiation and differences in the seedling stage of the F1 generation of ginkgo hybrids, an early selection test for the cultivation and research of leafy or medicinal ginkgo industry was conducted, which may provide a basis for boosting the precision of the ginkgo industry. The hybrid F1 generation obtained from the cross-mating was used as material for the determination of growth and development, as well as of the physiology and biochemistry of the monocots, and the male and female differential genes were obtained based on the data of SNPs obtained from the GBS sequencing of the hybrid progeny. In the seedling stage of ginkgo hybrid offspring, male plants had a significantly higher nutrient growth capacity than female plants, while the total flavonoid and terpene lactone contents in female plants were higher than those of the male plants. This result can provide a corresponding theoretical basis for the use of ginkgo germplasm resources, which can make full use of the male and female differences in the seedling stage and maximize the benefits of early sex identification.

Keywords

• ginkgo
• male–female differences
• growth advantage
• hybridization
• differential genes