EXPA1 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

EXPA1 (also known as EXP5) on chickpea chromosome 3 encodes an expansin, a protein that belongs to the RlpA-like_DPBB and expansin_CBD domain families. The gene is associated with plant-type cell wall loosening and organization, polar cell growth, primary root development, axis elongation, seed germination, and cell growth. It has been linked to root hair length, cell elongation, seed size, seed dormancy, root thickness, photochemical quenching, and salt response. Associations with drought tolerance, organ growth, primary root growth, root growth, cell wall composition, cell wall stiffness, hypocotyl length, and lateral root development have also been observed. The protein localizes to the extracellular region, plant-type cell wall, membrane, and mitochondria. Related genes in other species link the family to primary root length, hypocotyl elongation, root cell elongation, lateral root formation, and nematode resistance.