WRKY12 — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C020967.2, designated CmWRKY12 on melon chromosome 12, encodes a WRKY-domain transcription factor with promoter-specific chromatin binding, RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding, and protein homodimerization activity. The gene is associated with fruit bitterness in melon and with regulation of lignin anabolism, sclerenchyma cell differentiation, and plant-type cell wall biogenesis. It is linked to stress responses including cadmium ion stress, thermotolerance, systemic acquired resistance, and antifungal innate immune regulation, as well as abscisic acid and gibberellic acid signaling, leaf senescence, and autophagy. Associations with submergence tolerance, shoot branching, root development, seedling growth, disease tolerance, and salt tolerance have also been noted. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to defense against Botrytis cinerea, camalexin biosynthesis, and redox homeostasis.