Seed protein content and composition of near-isogenic and induced mutant pea lines

Total protein content and amounts of albumin, legumin and vicilin have been determined for pea seeds from lines near-isogenic except for genes at the rugosus loci, r and rb (RR/RbRb; rr/RbRb; RR/rbrb; rr/rbrb). Seeds with the wildtype, round-seeded phenotype (RR/RbRb) had less protein on a total seed dry-weight basis than any of the wrinkled-seeded lines and this protein had a lower proportion of albumin. The lines which had recessive alleles at both r and rb loci had the highest proportion of protein and the highest proportion of albumin. The roundseeded peas possessed nearly two-fold more legumin than the double recessive line, with proportions for the two single recessive lines falling in between these extremes. Vicilin levels were similarfor all four near-isogenic lines. SDS-PAGE analysis of the isolated albumin, legumin and vicilin fractions revealed no significant differences between the four lines. Differential scanning calorimetry of protein extracts showed that all the wrinkled-seeded near-isolines possessed legumin fractions with diminished thermal stability relative to that from the roundseeded, wild-type line.Chemically-induced mutants were also analysed for protein content and composition. These mutants have previously been shown to display great variation in starch and lipid levels. Total protein varied from 20.3% to 37.9%; however, relative proportions of albumin, legumin and vicilin were similar in all mutant lines. SDS-PAGE analysis identified two mutant pea lines which possessed a legumin A-chain of 65 000 Mr as well as the typical 45 000 Mr form. Differential scanning calorimetry of protein extracts indicated that the legumin in all mutants had lower enthalpies of denaturation than the legumin in the round-seeded parent.The mutant pea lines possess exceptional variation with respect to starch, lipid and protein which raises opportunities for their use in the food and animal feedstuff industries.

Hydrotropism in Pea Roots in a Porous-tube Water Delivery System

Orientation of root growth on earth and under microgravity conditions can possibly be controlled by hydrotropism-growth toward a moisture source in the absence of or reduced gravitropism. A porous-tube water delivery system being used for plant growth studies is appropriate for testing this hypothesis since roots can be grown aeroponically in this system. When the roots of the agravitropic mutant pea ageotropum (Pisum sativum L.) were placed vertically in air of 91% relative humidity and 2 to 3 mm from the water-saturated porous tube placed horizontally, the roots responded hydrotropically and grew in a continuous arch along the circular surface of the tube. By contrast, normal gravitropic roots of `Alaska' pea initially showed a slight transient curvature toward the tube and then resumed vertical downward growth due to gravitropism. Thus, in microgravity, normal gravitropic roots could respond to a moisture gradient as strongly as the agravitropic roots used in this study. Hydrotropism should be considered a significant factor responsible for orientation of root growth in microgravity.

Does growth rate determine leaf form in Pisum sativum?

We have examined the long-standing hypothesis that leaves are morphologically more complex following prolonged proximity to the shoot apical meristem. Growth rates of the petiole and rachis of conventional and mutant pea leaves were compared for successive nodes of insertion in seedling plants. Leaves were longer at higher nodes, though the relative growth rate did not vary. Mature afila leaves were longer than those of conventional and tendril-less genotypes. The afila leaf alone exhibited a transient, highly significant rise in relative growth rate during the plastochron interval P4.5–P5.5. This rise occurred after the stage at which leaves of the different genotypes were anatomically distinguishable (stage P2–P3). Rates of vertical displacement of the leaf primordium from the shoot apical meristem did not differ significantly among genotypes. Our data suggest that the rate of leaf extension is one of the consequences, rather than a cause, of leaf morphology.