Séminaire IBIP
Les séminaires ont lieu sur le Campus Montpellier SupAgro/INRA de La Gaillarde (2, place P. Viala Montpellier)

Jeudi 10 septembre 2026 à 14h, Amphi 206

Aline Muyle
ISEM, Montpellier

Evolution of separate sexes and sex chromosomes in the plant genus Silene

Separate male and female individuals (dioecy) are found in ~6% of angiosperms. This is often associated with the evolution of different male and female phenotypes (sexual dimorphism). However, it remains unclear why some species are more sexually dimorphic than others. In this seminar, I will present an ongoing project characterizing phenotypic sexual dimorphism in Silene. Preliminary results suggest that wind-pollinated species exhibit more pronounced sexual dimorphism, perhaps because they lack the need for shared floral traits between males and females to attract pollinators. In contrast, insect-pollinated species may face constraints to maintain similarity between sexes to ensure effective pollination. I will then explore how these phenotypic differences are regulated at the molecular level, including the differential expression of genes between males and females (sex-biased gene expression) and small RNAs differences. Finally, I will discuss how epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and small RNAs, contribute to the evolution of XY sex chromosomes (the pair that determines sex) in Silene latifolia.

Contact :Sandra Cortijo