ERF3 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC10G009110.1, designated ERF3 (also known as SlERF4 or ERF4) on tomato chromosome 10, encodes a protein with an AP2/ERF DNA-binding domain that localises to the nucleus. The gene is associated with bacterial wilt resistance, a trait observed directly in tomato. Annotated ontology terms link ERF3 to diverse processes including chlorophyll a breakdown, hormone metabolism, pigmentation, sulfur and glutathione metabolism, S-nitrosylation, demethylation, microgametogenesis, pollen exine formation, cytokinesis, meiosis, mRNA modification and surveillance, cell activation, and response to host. Associations with agronomically relevant traits include fruit size, sugar content, chlorophyll content, shoot dry weight, drought tolerance, ethylene sensitivity, germination rate, seed maturation, and salt tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to leaf chlorosis, proline content, and salt response.