STAMEN-SPECIFIC PROTEINS OF BUFFELGRASS (CENCHRUS-CILIARIS)

Total proteins were extracted from Cenchrus ciliaris L. (buffelgrass) pistils at the stages of megasporogenesis and of embryo sac enlargement and from anthers at the stages of microsporogenesis and of uninucleate microspore enlargement. They were analyzed by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four stamen-specific proteins were detected. One of them was specific to the microsporogenesis stage and one to the uninucleate microspore stage. The other two were found in both stages. No pistil-specific protein was found among 300 spots examined. Two cultivars gave identical results. The stamen-specific proteins might be involved in sexual differentiation in this species or they could be gametophyte- or meiosis-specific proteins.