Flower-Inducing Activity in the Phloem Exudata and Gene Expression Specific to Photoperiodic Floral Induction in Pharbitis Cotyledons

Flower-inducing activity in the phloem exudata of Pharbitis cotyledons was investigated using the bioassay of Pharbitis and Lemna. By SDS-PAGE and 2-D gel electrophoresis of the phloem exudate, two polypeptides of 11 kDa and of approximately 32 kDa (pI 6.9) showing qualitative changes during the flower induction were detected. A polypeptide of approximately 20 kDa (pI 4.8) specifically labeled in vivo with [35S]methionine was found during the inductive dark period in Pharbitis cotyledon tissues. The polypeptide of the equivalent molecular mass and with the identicl pI value was also detected by in vitro translation assay. Thus, it is assumed that the 20 kDa polypeptide plays a role in the process of flower induction in Pharbitis cotyledons.