KC1 — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C003656.2, designated CmKC1 on melon chromosome 5, encodes a protein belonging to the KAT/AKT family, with outward rectifier potassium channel activity and ion transporter activity. The gene is associated with regulation of membrane potential, monoatomic ion homeostasis, and upregulation of stomatal opening, as well as responses to basic pH, hypotonic salinity, and nutrients. CmKC1 is linked to numerous agronomic traits including yield, water use efficiency, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate, leaf necrosis tolerance, root hair and lateral root length, days to flowering, and responses to water stress, aluminum, cadmium, and powdery mildew. Additional associations include potassium translocation, stomatal opening, reactive oxygen species production, programmed cell death, and seed production. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to sodium and cadmium tolerance, root gravitropism, and guard cell ion flux.