SPL2 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

CaSPL2 (LOC101507206) on chickpea chromosome 6 encodes an SBP-domain transcription activator that binds DNA and zinc, localises to the nucleus, and regulates transcription. The gene is associated with leaf shaping, anther and flower development, the timing of vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition, and upregulation of long-day photoperiodic flowering. It is linked to temperature compensation of the circadian clock, blue and far-red light responses, hydrogen peroxide and cold responses, and negative regulation of auxin metabolism. Associations with agronomic traits include flowering time, photoperiod sensitivity, fruit set, seed growth and development, drought tolerance, disease tolerance, spot blotch, vegetative vigor, leaf senescence, chloroplast development, transpiration rate, and responses to abiotic stress, temperature stress, oxidative stress, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, and herbicides. Studies of related genes in other species link the SPL family to vegetative phase change, leaf and root morphology, shoot branching, and salt tolerance.