IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF A TAMARILLO LECTIN AND ITS IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SOLANACEOUS LECTINS

The distribution of a lectin (CBL1) in the tissues of young tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea, Solanaceae) fruit was visualized by an immunocyt ochemical technique. The lectin was localized predominantly in the cel l walls of fruit tissues and the seed coat but not in other seed tissu es. Apparent immunological cross reaction of solanaceous lectins inclu ding CBL1 was lost when Ouchterlony testing was carried out containing carbohydrate ligands specific for this lectin group. This suggests th at this group of lectins may not share similar structure.