The structure of protein bodies differs in the upper and lower parts of the cotyledons of mature seeds of Cytisus scoparius L. The palisade-mesophyll cells contain essentially homogeneous protein bodies, without globoids, but the protein bodies of the spongy-mesophyll cells are heterogeneous, with numerous globoids. Albumins, legumins and vicilins were selectively extracted from isolated protein bodies and their subunits separated by SDS-PAGE, under non-reducing and reducing conditions.

The isolated protein bodies of Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link and Cytisus scoparius ssp. maritimus (Rouy) Heywood were observed by scanning electron microscopy; they showed comparable shapes and sizes. The protein content and the sub-unit composition ofthe fractionated albumins, vicilins and legumins, however, showed significant electrophoretic differences between the two plants, both at the qualitative and quantitative levels.

The presence of globoids in cotyledon protein bodies is confirmed in several Genistae. In addition, the duality (homogeneous protein bodies in cells on the adaxial side and heterogeneous protein bodies in cells on the abaxial side), previously reported in Cytisus scoparius cotyledons, has now been established in other Cytisus species, as well as in other genera of the Genistae tribe.