CO — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsCO encodes a protein with a CCT domain and Znf_B-box motifs characteristic of the CONSTANS-like family. It is associated with regulation of phytochrome signaling, upregulation of short-day photoperiodism flowering, upregulation of chlorophyll breakdown, response to starvation, photoentrainment of circadian clock, and other biological processes. The gene is linked to traits including photoperiod sensitivity, leaf margin morphology, seed protein content, water stress response, nematode damage response trait, and glyphosate sensitivity. Related genes in other species are associated with photoperiod-dependent flowering time, tuberization, root architecture, and stress tolerance, though these associations are not yet established in lettuce.