LEA — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C023323.2, also known as CmLEA, encodes a dehydrin family protein with a conserved dehydrin domain and metal-binding molecular function. In melon, this gene is associated with responses to desiccation, drought, salt, cold, wounding, abscisic acid, and fungal defence, as well as with seed dehydration, embryogenesis, and cold acclimation. It is linked to photosynthetic rate, freezing and cold tolerance, seedling establishment, membrane stability, and osmotic and salt stress tolerance. The encoded protein localises to the membrane, cytosol, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species connect the dehydrin family to drought tolerance, ABA sensitivity, osmotic stress response, and traits including seed size, germination rate, fruit weight, water use efficiency, and raffinose content.