Abstract: The present invention provides a flowering inducer comprising any one of the following proteins (A)-(C). (A) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; (B) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution and/or addition of one or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 and having a flowering-inducing activity; and (C) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence having an identity of 60% or more with the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 and having a flowering-inducing activity. This flowering inducer can be administered into a plant body from outside.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA fragment or promoter for expressing a gene of interest light-repressibly or specifically in the dark. A light-repressible promoter was obtained from the 5? upstream region of a plant gene expressed light-repressibly or specifically in the dark, and the function of said promoter was extensively analyzed to reveal a cis-element sequence and a core sequence involved in light-repressible expression. An expression cassette comprising a DNA fragment carrying each of these sequences upstream of a gene of interest can be constructed and transfected into a plant cell or a plant to provide a plant cell or a plant that expresses the gene of interest light-repressibly or specifically in the dark.

Abstract: A holding apparatus coupled to a drive shaft provides a holding mechanism. An elastic mechanism coupling the holding mechanism to the drive shaft and detectors for detecting a deflection of the holding mechanism with respect to the drive shaft. The holding mechanism holds a first member which is assembled to a second member and is controlled in response to a representative signal generated by the detectors. The elastic mechanism comprises two independent springs, one of which supports elastically the holding mechanism in the axial direction of the shaft and the other of which supports elastically the holding mechanism in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof, whereby the holding mechanism is movably coupled with the drive shaft.