ERF1 — Capsicum annuum

Summary

CaERF1 (T459_13783) on pepper chromosome 5 encodes an ethylene-responsive transcription factor 15 with an AP2/ERF DNA-binding domain and transcription coactivator activity. The gene is associated with diverse biological processes including ethylene and jasmonic acid signaling, fruit ripening, trichome formation, and responses to drought, salinity, osmotic stress, and red/far-red light. It localizes to the nucleus and mediator complex. CaERF1 has been linked to agronomically important traits such as fruit length and weight, plant height, flowering time, photosynthetic rate, flavonoid content, seed viability, disease tolerance, and heterosis. Phenotypic associations include resistance to Botrytis cinerea and necrotrophic pathogens, salt and drought tolerance, heat tolerance, stomatal aperture regulation, lateral root development, and auxin accumulation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to ethylene response, GCC box-dependent transcription, and resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens.