The characterization of cultivars of cowpeas, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. And Vigna vexillata Benth. By electrophoresis of seed protection

Authors

  • S. Oghiakhe Department of Biochemistry and Biological Science, Wye College, University of London, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5AH, U.K.
  • R.J. Cooke National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, England
  • L.E.N. Jackai International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibdan, Nigeria, West Africa

Keywords:

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Vigna vexillata, Electrophoresis, Sodium dodecyl sulphc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS--PAGE), Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)

Abstract

The possibility of using electrophoresis to characterize cultivars of cowpeas, Vigna unguiculata Walp. and Vigna vexillata Benth., was investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) did not reveal any useful genetic differences in total seed protein patl between cowpea cultivars. However, PAGE of the water-soluble seed proteins provided a useful analysis technique. A key for the classification of 15 cultivars into five groups based on the presence absence of three protein bands following PAGE of the water-soluble seed proteins was developed

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Issue

Volume 70 Number 2

Section

Research Notes