Untitled

Abstract

Article InfoLectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immunoglobulin nature and are ubiquitous in nature. Study was undertaken with an objective to determine the lectin concentration in 15 wild chickpea seeds, which was unknown till date. Presence of lectin was assayed using human (A, B, AB and O) and rabbit erythrocytes, Trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes gave considerable lectin activity under in-vitro conditions. A titre was observed in 4-12 wells giving 8-4096 hemagglutination units (HAU). The specific activity was found highest in Cicer reticulatum ILWC-292 having 589.3 titre/mg. The lectins was stable for about 4-6 h and did not inhibit simple sugar moieties, but with complex sugars like desialated fetuin only. The primary role of lectin is to provide defence thus enhancing crop yield. Based on this screening data, ILWC-292 and ILWC-21 accessions may be used as parent in executing future breeding programme.