STUDIES ON THE CHANGES IN PEROXIDASE LEVELS IN CLUSTER BEAN (CYAMOPSIS-TETRAGONOLOBA) AND COWPEA (VIGNA-UNGUICULATA L) DURING DEVELOPMENT

Peroxidase activity and protein content in the crude as well as aceton e precipitate extracts. from cluster bean and cowpea, during eight sta ges of development were studied, along with average weight and moistur e content. Peroxidase activity increased upto the stage of maturity. f ollowed by a large decline till the stage of senescence. The soluble p roteins first declined, then started increasing and reached the peak a t the senescent stage. The isoenzyme patterns of peroxidase, during de velopment of both the vegetables, showed varying intensities. Cluster bean peroxidase possessed two isoenzyme bands throughout the developme nt and the cowpea showed five bands initially and a sixth band appeare d at maturity stage.