SPCH — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_010625, designated DcSPCH on carrot chromosome 3, encodes a bHLH domain-containing protein belonging to the FAMA/SPEECHLESS/MUTE family and is annotated with DNA-binding transcription activator activity. The gene is associated with stomatal lineage progression, guard cell differentiation, and stomatal complex development, as well as responses to osmotic stress, low humidity, freezing, and cold. It is linked to regulation of abscisic acid anabolism, seed morphogenesis, seed dormancy, and endosperm development. Associations with agronomic traits include temperature stress response, germination rate, seedling growth, root length, flowering time, leaf senescence, pollen fertility, and disease tolerance. Related genes in other species link the family to cold tolerance, freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and seed germination. The protein localizes to both the cytoplasm and nucleus.