GHD7 — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3006G004400 (SbGHD7) on sorghum chromosome 6 encodes a CCT domain-containing protein belonging to the CONSTANS-like family. It is a nuclear DNA-binding protein with zinc-binding activity. This gene is associated with the regulation of photoperiodism and flower development, and with downregulation of short-day and long-day photoperiodism, flowering, and upregulation of vernalization response. SbGHD7 is linked to pathways involving drought escape, inflorescence development, and flowering under drought stress. It has been connected to agronomically important traits including culm length, anthesis time, photosynthetic rate, heterosis, yield, grain number, panicle size, heading date, and grain cadmium concentration. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to additional traits such as stay green, drought sensitivity, spikelet fertility, and amylose content.