In vitro flowering associated protein changes in Dendrocalamus hamiltonii.

In Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, conversion of vegetative meristem to a floral meristem was successfully achieved on flower induction medium. A total of 128 differentially expressed proteins were evidenced by 2DE in floral meristem protein profiles. Analysis of 103 proteins through PMF revealed change in abundance in the content of 79 proteins, disappearance and new appearance in the content of 7 and 17 proteins, respectively. MS/MS and subsequent homology search identified 65 proteins that were involved in metabolism (22 proteins), regulatory (11 proteins), signaling and transportation (12 proteins), stress (6 proteins), flowering (8 proteins), and unknown functions (6 proteins). The data suggested that change in metabolism related proteins might be providing nutrient resources for floral initiation in D. hamiltonii. Further, interactive effects of various proteins like bHLH145, B-4c transcription factors (heat stress transcription factor), maturase K, MADS box, zinc finger proteins, and scarecrow-like protein 21 (flowering related), a key enzyme of ethylene biosynthesis SAMS (S-adenosylmethionine synthase) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, improved calcium signaling related proteins (CML36), and change in phytohormone related proteins such as phosphatase proteins (2c3 and 2c55), which are the positive regulators of gibberellic acid and phytochrome regulation related proteins (DASH, LWD1) might be the possible major regulators of floral transition in this bamboo.