Abstract

Biochemical studies were carried out with in vitro micropropagated plantlets of two indigenous cultivars of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), KK-1 and Hassan-2K, where extract from shoots, leaves, roots, and reproductive organs were determined for human erythrocyte agglutination (by mixing the lectin containing extract 1:1 with a 2% erythrocyte suspension), protein profiling and the amino assimilating (glutamine synthetase) enzymatic activity. Both of KK-1 and Hassan-2K cultivars extract showed highly phyto-agglutination of human erythrocytes with reproductive organs and other tissues, which represents the presence of potent lectins (phyto-agglutinin). The amino assimilating enzymatic activity of green leaves of Hasan-2K was found higher (3.545 GS µmol.gfw^-1.min^-1) as compared to KK-1 (2.873 GSµmol.gfw^-1.min^-1). Protein content profile showed variation in bulk proteins of various tissues, higher (12.634 µg/gfw) and (2.987 µg/gfw) in reproductive organs of KK-1 and Hasan-2K, respectively.

Key words: Chickpea, glutamine synthetase, glyco-protein, lectin, phyto-agglutinin.