SP — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC06G074350.3, known as SP (SELF-PRUNING) and by many synonyms including SlCEN and SlTFL1, encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP family) that also acts as a transcriptional co-regulator with DNA-binding transcription factor activity. In tomato, this gene is associated with inflorescence morphogenesis, flower formation, shoot apical meristem development, and the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition. It is linked to photoperiod-sensitive flowering, fruit abscission, fruit weight, fruit shape and size, seed size, sugar and protein content, harvest index, water use efficiency, net photosynthetic rate, specific leaf area, and responses to abiotic stress including drought. Associations with growth habit, shoot determinacy, sympodial growth, meristem identity, and plant architecture are also observed. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to inflorescence meristem maintenance, determinate growth, plant height, and cold acclimation.