DcHsp17.7 is a heat-inducible small heat shock protein (sHSP) in carrot ($Daucus$ $carota$ L.). Moreover, here we report that DcHsp17.7 is constitutively expressed in vegetative and reproductive tissues at defined developmental stages. Immunoblot analysis using a polyclonal antibody raised against DcHsp17.7 showed that the protein was present in non-stressed leaf tissue and gradually accumulated upon heat stress ($40^{circ}C$). In the heat-induced level of DcHsp17.7, there were transient, but reproducible declines, suggesting dynamic expression regulation. The protein was also present in dry and germinating seeds. It is worth noting that unlike most other seed sHSPs, which disappear upon completion of germination, DcHsp17.7 was continuously present in young seedling. In flower bud and open flower, the protein was constitutively expressed. Heat stress increased the amount of DcHsp17.7 in these floral tissues. Under the opposite temperature extreme, cold stress $2^{circ}C$), DcHsp17.7 was also present in these tissues, but the levels were lower than those under heat stress. Constitutive expression of DcHsp17.7 suggests that it may play physiological role(s) in the absence of thermal stress. Alternatively, DcHsp17.7 in non-stressed tissues may confer advanced protection to sudden temperature changes by immediately enhancing thermotolerance of cells.