# Unraveling the mystery of auxin-promoting femaleness in cucurbits

## TL;DR

This paper uncovers how auxin influences the development of female flowers in cucurbits, which is important for crop yield.

## Contribution

The study identifies CsARF3 as a key auxin response factor and reveals an interaction between auxin and ethylene in sex determination.

## Key findings

- CsARF3 is a crucial auxin response factor in promoting femaleness in cucurbits.
- Auxin and ethylene have a reciprocal relationship during female flower determination.

## Abstract

The female flower gives rise to the fruit/seed and thus directly affects crop yield in unisexual plants. Both ethylene and auxin promote femaleness in cucurbits. However, how auxin regulates sex determination has been an open question over half a century. The recent publication identified auxin response factor CsARF3 as a crucial player in auxin-promoting femaleness, and revealed a reciprocal relationship between auxin and ethylene during female flower determination.