Sugar transporters and their essential roles in plant male reproductive development

Plant male reproduction, particularly anther and pollen development, is a metabolically active process that relies heavily on efficient sugar transport and utilization. Sugar transporters (STs) are crucial in mediating sugar distribution from sources such as mature leaves to sinks like anthers and pollen. Disruptions in ST-mediated sugar allocation often lead to male sterility or reduced male fertility, highlighting their vital role in plant male reproduction. This review systematically summarizes the classification, functions, and regulatory mechanisms of STs involved in various stages of male reproduction in Arabidopsis and rice. Additionally, based on the phylogenetic analysis combined with anther RNA-seq expression data, 11 ST genes showing anther-specific or high anther expression are identified as promising candidates linked to male fertility in maize. These findings enhance our understanding of the critical roles of STs in plant male reproduction and offer valuable genetic resources for studying the mechanisms of STs related to maize male fertility, supporting crop hybrid breeding and male sterility-based seed production.