Taxonomic significance of seed protein profiles in Acacia, with special reference to Acacia emilioana

Abstract

Total seed proteins of 10 Acacia species were examined by SDS–PAGE. The protein patterns showed qualitative and quantitative differences among the taxa analysed. The main protein components of most species examined had MW's in the range of 38.5–49.0 × 10³. Subgenus Aculeiferum differed from subg. Acacia in the presence of a high concentration of proteins in the range of 20–24.5 × 10³. Hierarchical clustering of the 10 taxa was undertaken, based on Jaccard distances calculated from electrophoretic data. The species grouped in two main clusters, representing the two subgenera of Acacia that occur in America, namely subg. Acacia and subg. Aculeiferum. The taxonomic placement of Acacia emilioana, a species with uncertain sectional affinity within subg. Aculeiferum, is discussed.