AP2 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC03G044300.3 (AP2a) on tomato chromosome 3 encodes a protein with an AP2/ERF DNA-binding domain, possessing transcription corepressor activity, DNA-binding transcription factor activity, and protein homodimerization activity. It is associated with lycopene biosynthesis and accumulation, fruit ripening traits, fruit color, firmness, shape, and size, as well as carotenoid content. The gene is linked to floral development, including sepal morphogenesis, flower formation, regulation of floral organ abscission, and seed development and abscission. It has been connected to vegetative phase change, inflorescence branching, plant height, root morphology traits, drought tolerance, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and proline metabolism. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to flower development, seed development, ovule number, and Fusarium wilt resistance.