ARF8 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC02G037530.3 (ARF8) on tomato chromosome 2 encodes an auxin response factor containing B3 DNA-binding, AUX/IAA, and PB1 domains, acting as a DNA-binding transcription factor with promoter-specific chromatin binding activity. ARF8 is associated with auxin signalling, hormone metabolism, and reproductive development, including floral organ morphogenesis, petal morphogenesis, fruit and seed abscission, and sex determination. Observed phenotypes in tomato include altered internode length and leaf size. The gene has been linked to numerous traits including seed weight, fruit color, petal length, stigma exsertion, flower abortion, carpel number, plant male sterility, biomass yield, net photosynthetic rate, and phototropism. Additional associations include parthenocarpic fruit development, auxin homeostasis, lateral root formation, and TSWV resistance. Studies of related genes in other species connect it to petal growth, anther dehiscence, parthenocarpy, and clubroot resistance.