HEL — Cucumis sativus

Summary

CsHEL (CSA_2G010380) on cucumber chromosome 2 encodes a protein of the PR4 family, containing a Barwin domain and annotated with RNA nuclease, chitin-binding, hydrolase, and transmembrane receptor serine/threonine kinase activities. It is associated with responses to herbivores, viruses, and ethylene, as well as systemic acquired resistance, reactive oxygen species metabolism, hypersensitive response-programmed cell death, and auxin and brassinosteroid signalling. The gene is linked to fruit development, lipid storage, phloem transport, and leaf vascular tissue pattern formation. Traits connected to CsHEL include leaf vein morphology, leaf number, chlorophyll content, plant height, and pathogen defense responses, with observed resistance to Botrytis cinerea and salt tolerance. Related genes in other species link the family to leaf venation and vascular development.