Electrophoretic characterization of six selected enzymes of peanut cultivars

The isozyme patterns (both anodic and cathodic) of esterase, catalase, leucine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase and INT oxidase in individual seeds from several peanut cultivars (Arachis hypogaea) were characterized by polyacrylamide and starch gel electrophoresis in relation to the stages of seed development, maturity, and germination, geographic areas where grown and phylogenetic relationship. Of the six enzymes examined, only esterase contained cathodic isozymes, of which the patterns served to distinguish between the Spanish and the Virginia-type peanuts. Anodic esterase and acid phosphatase zymograms of early developing and germinating peanuts could be distinguished from those of predormant and mature seeds and the latter showed much intravarietal variation which was consistent among cultivars and the geographic areas where grown. Anodic isozymes of catalase, leucine aminopeptidase, alcohol dehydrogenase and INT oxidase were synthesized very early in peanut development and remained constant through maturity and to at least 24 hr germination; they were consistent within and between peanut cultivars and they were not influenced by the environmental conditions of the areas where the peanuts were grown. The consistency of the isozyme patterns within and between cultivars supports the suggestion that plant breeding programs used to develop superior cultivars have produced genetic uniformity in peanuts.