Proteom-comparison of sunflower cytoplasmic male sterile and fertile restorer inbred lines

To better understand the development of sunflower seed, a reference map of the major soluble proteins of sunflower seed was established using a combination of 2-DE and MALDI TOF and a total of 215 protein spots were detected with silver staining in a pH ranges of 3–10, of which 152 proteins were identified. These identified proteins were grouped into diverse functional categories. To further get an insight into the molecular basis of sunflower heterosis, differential proteome analysis between hybrid and parents were performed. A total of 7 differentially expressed protein spots were detected, and both quantitative and qualitative differences could be observed. Moreover 7 differentially expressed protein spots which identified, were involved in metabolism, signal transduction, energy, cell growth and division, disease and defense, secondary metabolism. These results indicated that hybridization between two parental lines can cause expression differences between sunflower hybrid and its parents not only at mRNA levels but also at protein abundances.