CUC2 — Asparagus officinalis

Summary

A4U43_C03F680, designated CUC2 (synonyms AoCUC2, AoANAC031, ANAC098, CUC3, NAC368), encodes a NAC domain-containing transcription factor on asparagus chromosome 3. The product exhibits DNA binding, transcription coactivator activity, and protein homodimerization activity. In asparagus, CUC2 is associated with regulation of plant organ formation timing, meristem initiation, organ boundary specification, secondary shoot formation, lateral root morphogenesis, xylem development, endosperm development regulation, nitrogen utilization, autophagy, seed dormancy, and reproductive structure development. The gene is linked to numerous traits including leaflet and leaf margin morphology, axillary bud morphology, shoot system elongation, seed set, whole plant size, gynoecium development, shoot growth angle, respiration rate, male sterility, gibberellic acid and cytokinin sensitivity, adventitious rooting, shoot axis branching, seed yield, pollen fertility, and vegetative growth time. Studies of related genes in other species connect the CUC family to cotyledon separation, embryonic shoot meristem formation, leaf margin dissection, and drought tolerance.