Abstract: Results of Northern blot and Dot blot analysis indicated that actin genes exhibit organ-specific expression in snake gourd (Luffa cylindrica L. ) and cucumber (Cucumis sativum L. ). Actin genes showed obvious developmental specificity during'the development of snake gourd seedlings, mRNA levels in stems of 30-day old seedlings were 4 ～ 6 times higher than that of roots and cotyledons of 8-day old seedlings and roots and hypocotyls of 15-day old seedlings, and were even 10～12 times higher than that of stems and leaves of flowering plants. Actin genes also showed organ-specific expression in young fruits (15 days after flowering) of cucumber.

Key words: Actin, Actin genes, Snake gourd, Cucumber, Organ-specific expression