AP2 — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsAP2, an AP2/ERF domain-containing protein on chromosome 8 of garden lettuce, encodes a protein with DNA binding, transcription coactivator and corepressor, and blue light photoreceptor activities. It is associated with regulation of floral organ abscission, seed development and abscission, endosperm development, starch biosynthesis, nitrogen utilization, and plant epidermal cell fate specification. The gene has been linked to numerous agronomically relevant traits including seed color, branch angle, shoot system elongation, photoperiod-sensitive flowering, plant male sterility, aphid and insect damage response, leaf growth and development, trichome morphology, and vegetative growth time. Related genes in other species connect the family to trichome development, mucilage production, tannin accumulation, drought tolerance, and defense against pathogens and insects.