Immunosystematical comparison ofPhaseolus coccineus seed proteins with those of other legumes

An immunosystematical research was conducted on the seed proteins of 32 species ofFabaceae. By comparing all immunelectrophoretic patterns with the self reaction of a reference system (Phaseolus coccineus) all proteins detected have been identified and their distribution within the family has been analyzed. Half of the proteins identified inP. coccineus gave positive cross reactions with proteins present in all other species. Among this group are protein I and phaseolin. This result supports the homologization between phaseolin and vicilin. Among the other proteins, three are irregularly distributed throughout the family, and only three are restricted to a few taxa. This last group includes phytohaemagglutinin, which does not present any cross reaction outside the tribePhaseoleae.