CUC2 — Asparagus officinalis

Summary

A4U43_C01F30010 (CUC2, also known as AoCUC2) encodes a NAC domain-containing transcription factor with DNA-binding and transcription coactivator activity. In asparagus, this gene is associated with the regulation of plant organ formation, meristem initiation, organ boundary specification, secondary shoot formation, lateral root morphogenesis, xylem development, endosperm development, pistil development, gibberellic acid homeostasis, seed dormancy, autophagy, and nitrogen utilization. It localizes to the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and endosomal compartments. The gene has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including leaflet and leaf margin morphology, shoot branching, seed set and yield, plant male sterility, pollen fertility, stem elongation, vegetative growth time, flower and floral organ development, gynoecium development, cotyledon morphology, trichome morphology, cell elongation, and responses to gibberellic acid and cytokinin. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to cotyledon separation, shoot meristem formation, leaf margin dissection, and drought tolerance.