CO — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_020110 (symbol CO, also known as COL5, DcFG, FG, and numerous BBX and COL synonyms) on carrot chromosome 6 encodes a CONSTANS-like protein containing B-box zinc finger and CCT domains. The gene is associated with regulation of the phytochrome signaling pathway, photoperiodism and flowering, including upregulation of short-day flowering and response to both long-day and short-day conditions. It has been connected to chlorophyll breakdown, circadian clock photoentrainment, and responses to mannose and starvation. Associations extend to numerous agronomic traits including photoperiod sensitivity, vegetative vigor, leaf morphology and angle, seed protein content, iron content, nitrogen and nitrate sensitivity, water stress response, and tuber size. The gene is also linked to flower and fruit development, petal and sepal identity, and Botrytis cinerea resistance. Related genes in other species are associated with photoperiod-dependent flowering time, tuberization, stress tolerance, and disease resistance.