DFR — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsDFR (DFR, CCR4) on chromosome 9 of garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa) encodes a protein with dihydroflavanol 4-reductase, flavanone 4-reductase, anthocyanidin reductase, cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase, racemase and epimerase activities, and NADP binding, belonging to the epimerase/dehydratase and NAD(P)-binding Rossmann-fold superfamilies. The gene is associated with pigment accumulation, pigmentation, anthocyanin and flavonoid anabolism, and sucrose anabolism, and localises to the nucleus. It is linked to leaf color, anthocyanin content, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, quantum yield, stomatal resistance, shoot fresh and dry weight, and leaf number. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to flower and fruit color, flavonoid and carotenoid content, leaf thickness and shape, starch and sugar content, net photosynthetic rate, photochemical quenching, water use efficiency, pollen fertility, and drought tolerance.