SEN4 — Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

Summary

BvSEN4 (BVRB_7G161840) on sugar beet chromosome 7 encodes a xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) with xyloglucan-specific endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity and polysaccharide binding. The product localises to the apoplast, plant-type cell wall, Golgi and secretory vesicles. The gene is associated with cell wall loosening, assembly and organisation, xyloglucan catabolism, secondary cell wall biogenesis, leaf vascular pattern formation, primary root development, and responses to auxin, gibberellin, brassinosteroid and far-red light. It is linked to sugar content, seed growth and development, brassinosteroid sensitivity, aluminum response, salt tolerance, freezing tolerance, leaf senescence, shade avoidance, and osmotic stress tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species link the XTH family to root elongation, vascular development, aluminum tolerance, freezing stress resistance, and cell wall rigidity.