Keeping constant all agronomic factors except temperature is a way to follow Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) expression. Three different sunflower hybrids derived from the cross between an inbred line, Cms HA 89, and three different restorer inbred lines, with resistance, susceptible, and normal reactions to drought, were produced. In order to investigate the impact of temperature on protein accumulation during achene filling phase, they were cultivated in two different geographical areas: Karaj in Iran and Udine in Italy. Total protein content and structural polypeptide fractions of Seed Storage Proteins (SSPs) were determined. The analysis of HSPs was carried out by means of lab-on-chip capillary electrophoresis. It was revealed that protein accumulation in achene occurs at a greater rate during the achene filling phase, i.e. approximately 9-25 days after pollination, in all examined hybrids. Besides, the presence of a polypeptide band of 17.7 kDa supposed to be of small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs) family was recorded in all three hybrids grown up in hot and arid environment, Karaj, which implied independent sHSPs expression from the paternal restorer line.

Keywords: Hybrid sunflower, Lab-on-chip capillary electrophoresis, Paternal restorer line, Small Heat Shock Protein (sHSPs)

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