VI1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB229460 (VI1, also known as ZmCWIN4, ZmFRUCT5, and other synonyms) on maize chromosome 5 encodes an invertase with multiple annotated enzymatic activities, including beta-fructofuranosidase, sucrose 1F-fructosyltransferase, and fructan exohydrolase activity. The gene is associated with vacuolar and cell wall localisation, phloem unloading, nectar secretion, ear development, C4 photosynthesis, and responses to gibberellin and starvation. It has been linked to numerous agronomically important traits including grain yield, grain weight, seed weight, seed color, starch and sugar content, anthesis-silking interval, water use efficiency, heat and cold tolerance, drought tolerance, net photosynthetic rate, and root pulling force. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to carbon metabolism, sucrose accumulation, pollen development, seed size, and grain quality.