Comparison of Protein Profile and Peroxidases in Bush and Vine-type Tropical Pumpkin

Abstract

Comparisons of total peroxidase activity and peroxidase isozymes as well as protein profiles among segregating, near-isogenic bush and vine phenotypes of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) were investigated. Peroxidase activities of internode and leaf tissues of the bush plants were higher than those of respective vine tissues. Roots of bush plants, however, had a lower peroxidase activity than vine plants. In both bush and vine plants, peroxidase activities were lower in leaf tissues than in root and internode tissues. Electrophoretic comparisons revealed qualitative differences in peroxidase patterns in internodes between bush and vine plants. Moreover, qualitative differences between internode and root profiles were found between bush and vine plants in C. moschata. In conclusion, the results of this report revealed that a single gene conferring the bush phenotype in C. moschata might affect the relative expression of peroxidase activity, peroxidase isozymes, and protein profiles in leaf, internode, and root tissues.