The components of leghaemoglobin (Lb) from twelve different Pisum
sativum L. cvs and three near-isogenic foliar
mutants were investigated by anion-exchange high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC). Five different
Lb component profiles could be found. The number of components varied
from four to six dependent on cultivar
used. An Lb pattern composed of four Lb components could be detected in
thirteen P. sativum cultivars and lines.
Ten of them showed an identical profile. In nodules of each cultivar, the
two known major components, LbI and
LbV, but also LbIV, could be detected. Additionally, cultivar-specific
Lb
components could be identified, each
representing up to 10% of total Lb. One of these components, LbIII, has
been described previously, but three
new Lb components (LbII, LbVI, and LbVII) were found. The presence of all
Lb
components detected by
HPLC was confirmed by analytical isoelectric focusing. Further, it was
shown
that age-dependent changes in the
relative concentrations of LbI and LbV are common in P. sativum
and
that these variations are independent of
breeding lines and cultivars.