[Expression analysis of the unisex-determine gene M in cucumber].

Sex determination in plants has various machnisam; however, a single gene locus controlling unisexual expression is unique in the Cucurbitaceae plants, particularly cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and melon (Cucumis melo L.). In this study, with quantitative RT-PCR method, two sets of near-isogenic lines (NILs) were used to analyze the expression pattern of gene CsACS2 (GenBank accession number FJ529216). Additionally, chemical applications (AgNO3 and AVG) were used to investi- gate the effect of the plant endogenous ethylene on CsACS2 expression. Expression analysis reveals that endogenous ethylene, which might be derived from F or M itself, could activate the expression of M gene.