Biochemical and Cytological Studies During Seed Development in Somaclones of Lathyrus sativus

Soluble proteins in six somaclones and the parent at three different stages of development of Lathyrus sativus seeds showed polypeptides of mol wts ranging from 20–165 kD on SDS-PAGE. Immature seeds showed eight distinct esterase bands and two peroxidase bands. Pattern for both the enzymes among somaclones was almost similar. During maturation a new isoform of peroxidase with high mobility appeared in all the somaclones, while one new isoform of intermediate mobility was visible in somaclones Bio L-08 and Bio I-08. Cytological analysis of all the somaclones confirmed the stability of the chromosome count of 2n=14. At metaphase I seven distinct bivalents and at anaphase I and II univalents showing complements of the seven chromosomes were visible. No structural or chromosomal aberration were observed among somaclones.