ARF4 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

Tomato ARF4 (Solyc11g069190.2) encodes an auxin response factor, a DNA-binding transcription factor containing B3, AUX/IAA, and PB1 domains that localises to both the nucleus and cytoplasm. In tomato, ARF4 is associated with osmotic stress tolerance, salt tolerance, drought resistance, water deficit resistance, and spider mite tolerance. It is linked to root development, lateral root formation, trichome formation, leaf rolling, ascorbic acid accumulation and biosynthesis, and abaxial cell fate specification. The gene is also associated with fruit volume, fruit weight, fruit shape, seed weight, starch content, sucrose content, grain protein content, stem strength, leaf relative water content, and inflorescence branching. Studies of related genes in other species link ARF4-related genes to male and female gametophyte development and membrane trafficking.