Abstract:

The aims were to provide early sex determination methods for Trichosanthes kirilowii plants based on the change of related physiological indicators of male and female plants in different developmental stages. Related physiological and biochemical indicators such as soluble sugar, water-soluble phenol, endogenous hormones, and nucleic acid content of male and female Trichosanthes kirilowii leaves in seedling and florescence stage were tested. The content of water-soluble phenol, nucleic acid, auxin (IAA) and gibberellin (GA) decreased with the growth of plants, the content of soluble sugars, abscisic acid (ABA), zeatin (ZR) increased along with the growth of plants. The contents of ABA and ZR in female plants are significantly higher than that of male plants. The contents of water-soluble phenol and nucleic acid are significantly lower than that of male plants, no significant difference in GA content between male and female plants. ABA, ZR, soluble sugar, water-soluble phenol and nucleic acid content could be used as indicators of early sex identification in Trichosanthes kirilowii.