CAF — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C011495.2 (CmCAF) on melon chromosome 4 encodes a protein with RNase III, PAZ, and DEAD/DEAH-box helicase domains, characteristic of Dicer-like proteins, and is annotated with ribonuclease III, helicase, DNA glycosylase, and RNA methyltransferase activities. The gene is associated with small RNA processing pathways including long siRNA, trans-acting siRNA, and pre-miRNA processing, as well as gene silencing by miRNA, regulation of adaxial/abaxial pattern formation, seed maturation, and suspensor development. It has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including fruit sweetness and size, leaf morphology, stem length, viral disease response, heterosis, herbicide sensitivity, and osmotic stress tolerance. Associations with jasmonic acid-isoleucine accumulation, herbivore resistance, and resistance to Fusarium brachygibbosum have also been noted.