AP3 — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C003778.2 (symbol AP3, preferred name CmAP3) on melon chromosome 5 encodes a MADS-box transcription factor containing MEF2-like and K-box domains, with DNA-binding and protein heterodimerization activity. The gene is associated with specification of floral organ identity, particularly petal and stamen identity, as well as maintenance of floral meristem identity and floral organ number. It has been linked to numerous flower morphology traits including corolla, sepal, petal, stamen and carpel morphology, floral organ size, petal number, stamen length, and plant male sterility. Additional associations include leaf margin morphology, trichome morphology, axillary bud development, photoperiod-sensitive flowering time, days to flowering, seed longevity, jasmonic acid content, auxin sensitivity, high temperature stress response, and photosynthetic rate. The gene localizes to the nucleus, cytoplasm, cytosol, and plasmodesmata. Related genes in other species are linked to petal and stamen identity and floral organ development.