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Kuma-zasa is Japanese folk medicine derived from plants of genus Sasa, family Bambusaceae. Although the plants of origin of Kuma-zasa were reported to be Sasa palmata, S. senanensis, S. yahikoensis, and S. kurilensis, authentication of those plants was difficult because of similarity in morphology. Several methods for the classification of genus Sasa are available, but none involve a genetic approach. Here, we performed the genetic profiling of genus Sasa, including the four species used medicinally. Thirteen sequences were observed in chloroplast DNA intron between rbcL and ORF106 and partial ORF106 regions of 34 specimens of 16 Sasa species and one specimen of Phyllostachys pubescens. We observed differences in alignment in this region among the specimens. The analyzed lengths varied from 759 to 821 bp depending on the specimen. There were nine base substitutions, eight successive thymines or adenines, and one to three repeat units of 31 bp. Moreover, we could not find species-specific alignment: different alignments were observed in specimens of the same species, while the same alignment was observed in specimens of different species. In the phylogenetic tree reconstructed by maximum parsimony analysis, medicinally used species did not form a cluster, although most of them were positioned close to each other. The genetic profiling of Sasa species would be of use in determining the botanical origin of the herbal medicine derived from the leaves of Sasa plants.

A cDNA named DlMADS8 was isolated from the young spikelets of the sweet bamboo, Dendrocalamus latiflorus by rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE). DNA sequence analysis showed that DlMADS8 was composed of full ORF and 3'UTR, but without 5'UTR. The cDNA contained 1059 nucleotides and encoded a putative protein of 244 amino acid residues. The gene displayed the structure of a typical plant MADS-box gene, which consisted of a MADS domain, K domain, a short I region, and the C-terminal region. Phylogenetic analysis of plant MADS-box genes based on amino acid sequences revealed that DlMADS8 was grouped into the AGAMOUS-LIKE 2 (AGL2)-like subfamily. It was homologous to the LEAFY HULL STERILE1 (LHS1) genes of grasses. To study the functions of it, DlMADS8 cDNA clone driven by the CaMV 35S promoter was transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants of DlMADS8 exhibited the phenotypes of curled leaves and early flowering. After bolting, three novel phenotypes related to inflorescence development were observed in different transgenic plants. No obvious homeotic conversions of floral organs were observed in all of the 35S::DllMADS8 transgenic Arabidopsis plants. These results indicated that DlMADS8 probably plays a role in floral meristem determinacy and is involved in controlling the flowering time of D. latiflorus.