BLR — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C009220.2, the melon (Cucumis melo) gene symbol BLR (also known as CmBLR, CmPNY, and CmBLH9) on chromosome 5, encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor with DNA-binding, transcription coactivator, and RNA-binding activities. It is associated with floral whorl morphogenesis, maintenance of inflorescence and floral meristem identity, secondary shoot formation, and adaxial/abaxial pattern specification. The gene is linked to negative regulation of auxin signaling, cytokinin biosynthesis, and glycine metabolism. Associations with agronomic traits include compound leaf morphology, flower and fruit development, seed weight, photoperiod-sensitive flowering time, shoot axis branching, and biotic stress tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to shoot apical meristem maintenance, organ polarity, internode patterning, and fruit development.