Abstract: Sex differentiation in higher plants implies three fields of research: the identification of macromolecular markers specific for sex differentiation(expression program), the analysis of the signals(such as phytohormones) inducing sex organs, and finally the isolation and analysis of sex determination genes. Recently, a good progress has been made in the study on sex differentiation in higher plants. This article mainly reviews the progress of the study in the fields of the expression programs, inducing signals and sex determination genes.