A new reliable and sensitive PCR assay as an early diagnosis for Sex-determination in Jojoba plants based on the human SRY gene

Abstract BackgroundJojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis L.) is a dioecious perennial evergreen shrub native to the south-western desert of North America and has now been introduced to Middles East. Currently, there is low production of jojoba globally, mainly due to the high male to female ratio in the plantations since they are mainly established from seed. Hence, a proper population stand in terms of the male: female ratio is almost impossible to maintain in the field, leading to reduced production. We report a breakthrough in the methodology for determining the sex of jojoba plants. Our research revealed that the jojoba genome contains the sequence of SRY gene, which encodes a protein similar to that found in the human Sex-Determining Region (SRY) gene. This region was amplified and matched with sequences found in papaya and human. ResultsThe jojoba-SRY regions (SRY gene) was amplified, and we closely matched with sequences of SRY in the papaya and human. The complete sequence of the DNA was deposited in GenBank (BankIt MK991776,3 60pb). Our newly-developed method is rapid and straightforward, representing a breakthrough for sex determination strategies of jojoba plants to identify sex at early developmental stages. ConclusionThe uniqueness of this approach is that it targets specific sequences in SRY, a region extensively studied in human genetics but also apparently recognizable in plants. This useful molecular diagnostic tool is vital in agronomical breeding programs for sex determination in long-lived jojoba crops.