VEX1 — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3004G136600 (SbVEX1) on sorghum chromosome 4 encodes a bidirectional sugar transporter of the SWEET family, with sugar transmembrane transporter activity and protein binding functions. The gene is associated with carbohydrate transport, protein homooligomerization, and localisation to the plasma membrane. SbVEX1 has been linked to seed width, length, shape, and size, as well as grain weight and yield, and photosynthetic rate. Pollen germination has also been connected to this gene. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to grain number, grain size, grain-filling, and sugar transport in the phloem and seed, as well as freezing tolerance, plant size, resistance to fungal pathogens, and stem rust resistance.