NCED2 — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_027908 (NCED2, also known as DcNCED2, DcNCED3, DcNCED5, NCED3, NCED5, and NCED-8) on carrot chromosome 8 encodes a carotenoid dioxygenase with 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase activity and metal binding. This gene is associated with abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signaling, carotenoid and carotene breakdown, and anabolism of beta-carotene, xanthophyll, lycopene, and auxin. It is linked to seed dormancy, fruit ripening, anther and pollen development, and responses to drought, salicylate, gibberellin, and auxin. The protein localizes to the thylakoid, chloroplast thylakoid membrane, and chloroplast stroma. NCED2 is associated with carotene content, photosynthetic rate, root length, salt tolerance, seed germination, stomatal closure, leaf senescence, and resistance to Botrytis cinerea. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to tuber dormancy, lateral root development, and boron toxicity tolerance.