Accumulation of seed storage proteins and the taxonomy ofPoaceae

The accumulation of specific seed proteins is a taxonomically valuable feature and can be used to additionally characterize plant taxa. To date, mainly crop proteins have been analysed in thePoaceae. In this investigation seed proteins from 147 species were screened with emphasis on legumin-like proteins and prolamins. The groups resulting from evaluation of the protein profiles correspond with well-known subfamilies and tribes.Panicoideae are clearly separated fromPooideae. WithinPooideae, theBromeae plusTriticeae tribes revealed obvious similarities.Lolium, Festuca andVulpia, generally included in the tribeFestuceae, revealed a protein profile similar to the profile of theBromeae/Triticeae. Legumin-like proteins are accumulated abundantly inBambusoideae andPooideae exceptBromeae/Triticeae, however, only the species included in theAveninae subtribe produce soluble (globulin-type) legumins as already known fromAvena sativa.Dedicated to emer. Univ.-Prof. DrFriedrich Ehrendorfer on the occasion of his 70th birthday