NCED2 — Cucumis sativus

Summary

CsNCED2 (CSA_6G523440) on cucumber chromosome 6 encodes a carotenoid dioxygenase with 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase activity and metal binding, placing it in the Carotenoid_Oase family. The gene is associated with abscisic acid anabolism and metabolism, carotene breakdown, and xanthophyll and lycopene anabolism. It is linked to seed dormancy, fruit development and ripening, anther development, aerenchyma formation, immune response, and responses to salicylate and gibberellin. Associations with rootless and adventitious rootless phenotypes, root number and length, germination rate, proline and starch content, photosynthetic rate and quantum yield, and tolerance to drought, salt, high light, and Botrytis cinerea have been noted. The product localizes to the thylakoid, chloroplast thylakoid membrane, and chloroplast stroma. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to additional traits including leaf water content, carotenoid content, fruit firmness, and stomatal closure.