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A cDNA namedDlMADS18 was isolated from the young spikelets of the sweet bamboo,Dendrocalamus latiflorus by RACE. DNA sequence analysis showed thatDlMADS18 was composed of full ORF and 3′UTR, but without 5′UTR. The cDNA contained 1039 nucleotides and encoded a putative protein of 249 amino acid residues. The gene displayed the structure of a typical plant MADS box gene, which consisted of an 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 thatDlMADS18 was grouped into theAGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (AGL6)-like subfamily. It was most likely homologous to theOsMADS6 of rice (Oryza sativa), with 88% sequence identity for the entire amino acid sequences. TheDlMADS18 also showed relatively high amino acid sequence identity (59%) toAGL6 ofArabidopsis thaliana. To study the functions ofDlMADS18, DlMADS18 cDNA clone driven by the CaMV 35S promoter was transformed intoArabidopsis plants. Transgenic plants ofDlMADS18 exhibited the phenotypes of curled leaves, dwarfism, and early flowering with clustered terminal flowers. These results indicated thatDlMADS18 may probably be involved in controlling the flowering time ofD. latiflorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]