HY5 — Capsicum annuum

Summary

T459_09066 (HY5) on pepper chromosome 3 encodes a bZIP transcription factor of the HY5/Hac1 family, annotated with DNA-binding transcription activator activity, phytochrome binding, and photoreceptor activities. This gene is associated with the upregulation of photosynthesis and lateral root development, regulation of phytochrome signaling, cellular water homeostasis, and hormone metabolism. It has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including grain yield, fruit quality, leaf area, vegetative vigor, osmotic adjustment capacity, and responses to UV, blue, and far-red light. Additional associations include lycopene content, starch degradation, fungal tolerance, root system morphology, and seed coat hardness. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to carotenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, fruit ripening, sugar content, and cold tolerance, as well as light signaling, photoperiod-dependent flowering, and insect resistance.