PASTURE PLANT IDENTIFICATION USING ENZYME ELECTROPHORESIS

Abstract

Plant enzymes can be electrophoretically separated and identified by specific staining. Resulting banding patterns can enable the identification of enzyme genotypes for individual plants. The ability to identify banding patterns for particular enzymes has a number of applications. Three examples are documented here: i) Identifying clones, e.g. Trifolium hybrids, ii) Identifying hybrid progeny, e.g. subterranean clover (T. wbterraneum L.). and iii) Distinguishing cultivars on the basis of population allele frequency, e.g. perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars Ellett. Grasslands Nui and Grasslands Ruanui. Keywords: Isozymes, pasture plants, enzyme genotypes.