NCED1 — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_021059 (NCED1, DcNCED1) on carrot chromosome 6 encodes a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.51) with a carotenoid oxygenase domain and metal-binding activity. The enzyme is associated with abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and homeostasis, as well as carotenoid, beta-carotene, lycopene, and xanthophyll metabolism. It is linked to carotene and carotenoid content, fruit ripening, anther and pollen development, and responses to ABA, auxin, gibberellin, salicylate, salinity, and thirst. The protein localises to the chloroplast thylakoid membrane and stroma. Studies of related genes in other species connect the NCED1 family to drought tolerance, tuber dormancy, resistance to late blight, and traits including root colour, leaf relative water content, root number and length, fruit firmness and size, plant height, chlorophyll and anthocyanin content, stomatal resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance.