Scientists have finally solved the mystery of "cross-pollination": genes that determine the length of organs

Scientists have solved a century-old mystery: a super-gene that can cause effective cross-pollination in flowers

Since the 16th century, horticulturists and botanists have known that some plants have two different forms of flowers, and their male and female sex organs are of opposite length

Now, researchers at Stockholm University, together with partners from Uppsala University, Durham University, the University of Granada and the University of Seville, have solved the mystery

Surprisingly, they found that the supranational genes that affect differences in the length of male and female sex organs are also different

Tanja Slotte, professor of ecogenomics at Stockholm University and senior author of the study, said: "These results really surprised us because a similar double-stranded controlled supergenome was found in another system, Primula, which evolved

Hunita Gutiérrez-Valencia, a PhD student at Stockholm University and lead author of the study, said: "Evolution has not only repeatedly led to similar variations in the flowers of primrose and flaxseed species, it has also relied on similar genetic solutions to achieve this feat

These findings provide new insights into the special forces of evolution to find consistent solutions to a wide range of adaptive challenges, such as the need for cross-pollination in flowering plants

"The two-type peduncle is an effective cross-pollination mechanism

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