COMPARISON OF PHYTOHAEMAGGLUTININS IN WILD BEANS (PHASEOLUS ABORIGINEUS) AND IN COMMON BEANS (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS) AND THEIR INHERITANCE

Populations of wild beans (Phaseolus aborigineus) giving both positive and negative haemagglutination test were detected. The positive extracts had the same specificity as common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and induced mitosis in human lymphocyte cultures. They behaved similarly to common bean extracts in immunoelectrophoresis. The genetic analysis pointed to a single dominant trait of inheritance of the PHA. From the occurrence of positive and mixed wild populations it is concluded that no significant selection pressure and, hence, no vital role exists for the bean agglutinins. © 1970.