VEGETATIVE TISSUE LECTINS OF PEANUT (A-HYPOGAEA)

Lectin activities in roots, nodules, stems and leaves of 1-6 week old peanut plant (A. hypogaea) were checked by erythrocyte (human and rabb it) agglutination and sugar inhibition assays. Human and rabbit erythr ocyte agglutinating activities were specifically inhibited by lactose/ cellobiose (SLII) and methyl alpha-mannoside (SLI) respectively. Seeds , embryos and cotyledons agglutinated neuraminidase treated human eryt hrocytes and that activity was inhibited by T- disaccharide. In the ro ots of field grown plants SLI was the major activity, while nodules sh owed both activities (SLI and SLII). Specific activities of SLI and SL II were maximal in stem tissue and hypocotyl exhibited minimal levels. Actively growing tissues like newly emerging young leaves and elongat ing stem contained more SLII activity in comparison to the mature tiss ues. Immunological test indicated that all the vegetative tissue lecti ns are serologically related.