Investigation of serological determinants from single storage plant proteins

The main storage proteins of the angiosperms provide valuable characters for taxonomic research. By comparing the reactivity of one specific protein in different taxa (mainly Ranunculaceae). determinants or determinant groups can be discriminated. Their number is a function of the number of the reference or anti-systems and of the number of taxa compared. These serological determinants prove a posteriori to be good characters and most useful in taxonomy. Their systematic range extends from one genus to the whole of the angiosperms. The resolving power is best between genera within a family. Using such a single protein system, it is possible to co-ordinate the determinants of the taxa investigated and to map their distribution; this is an advantage over the multi-protein systems commonly used. By serological comparison, it should be possible to establish the homology of the main storage globulins throughout the angiosperms.