Serological evidence confirming the assignment of phaseolus aureus and P. mungo to the genus vigna

Endopeptidase activity was detected in extracts of cotyledons of 11 species of Vigna and Phaseolus Antibodies against the purified protease isolated from the cotyledons of 5-day-old P.aureus seedlings inhibited the activity of that enzyme in crude extracts of cotyledons. A similar inhibition was obtained with P. mungo, P. adenanthus and 4 species of Vigna, while there was no inhibition of endopeptidase activity in extracts of cotyledons of 4 species of Phaseolus. Immunodiffusion tests proved that the protease of Vigna is distinct from that of Phaseolus. The evidence supports the reassignment of P. aureus and P. mungo to the genus Vigna and indicates that the names Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo are more appropriate than P. aureus and P. mungo for green gram and black gram respectively.