Seed proteins of the wild and the cultivated Amaranthus species

The 13–21% variation in seed protein content was observed in wild and cultivated forms of amaranth. Seed proteins of amaranth are highly nutritive and composed presumably of easily digestable albumins and globulins (over 50% of total protein); of 20.8% alkali-soluble proteins-glutelins with similar nutritive value and only of 12% alcohol-soluble proteins-prolamins which are lacking in essential amino acids. The results of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (buffer pH being 3.2) indicate that seed proteins of amaranth are heterogeneous and compose of 38 bands which, by their electrophoretic mobility, can be tentatively assigned to four zones: A, B, C and D. By their protein patterns all Amaranthus species were assigned to 7 biotypes. The cytogenetic and electrophoretic comparison enabled us to determine the degree of diversity among amaranth forms studied. The phylogenetic relationship between A. paniculatus L. and A. hybridus L. was confirmed. A relationship was also supposed between these two species and A. lividus L. and between A. powellis L. and A. deflexus L. which by their electrophoretic patterns belong to the same biotype. A taxonomic classification of 5 samples whose classification has not been done yet was performed, as well as of cultivars Elbrus and Progress which were assigned to specious A. edulis L. It was confirmed that the method of electrophoretic analysis of seed storage proteins is very promising for detecting the phylogenetic relationship between Amaranthus species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.