Papaya is a trioecious species with XX females, XY males, and XYh hermaphrodites, and the combination of Y and Yh chromosomes is lethal. Here, the authors identify the degeneration of the YY lethality gene on the Y chromosome as the causal balancing lethal factor that reenforces dioecy and stabilizes balanced sex ratios.
- Jingjing Yue
- Juan Liu
- Ray Ming
