NCED1 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SlNCED1 (SOLYC07G056570.1) on tomato chromosome 7 encodes a carotenoid dioxygenase with 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase activity, placing it in the Carotenoid_Oase family. The gene is associated with abscisic acid biosynthesis and homeostasis, carotene breakdown, the xanthophyll cycle, and photoprotection. Its product localises to the chloroplast thylakoid membrane and stroma. SlNCED1 has been connected to drought tolerance, abscisic acid signaling, and traits including fruit firmness and size, sugar and carotenoid content, leaf relative water content, root number and length, plant height, stem diameter, stomatal resistance, and proline, anthocyanin, and chlorophyll content. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to tuber dormancy, resistance to late blight, and abiotic stress tolerance.