CO — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_003040 (DcCO, also known as DcFG) on carrot chromosome 1 encodes a CONSTANS-like protein containing B-box and CCT domains. The gene is associated with a wide range of molecular functions including OGTase, peptide-O-fucosyltransferase, and histone methylase activities, as well as red/far-red light photoreceptor activity. It is linked to regulation of phytochrome signaling, upregulation of short-day photoperiodism and flowering, chlorophyll breakdown, and responses to light quality and duration. DcCO is associated with numerous traits including photoperiod sensitivity, vegetative vigor, seed protein content, iron content, water stress response, and nitrogen sensitivity. It is also associated with inflorescence branch arrangement, fruit set, leaf morphology traits, and tuber size. Studies of related CONSTANS-like genes in other species link the family to photoperiod-dependent flowering time, tuberization, stress tolerance, and root architecture.