An attempt has been made to establish distinctiveness among twenty two indigenous and two reference varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) along with nine indigenous and two reference varieties of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by seed storage protein profiling. It revealed thirty-nine polypeptide bands in maize and fourteen in French bean. Unique distinctive loci were observed in both the crops. Six varieties in maize and four varieties in French bean were discriminated. In maize unique bands of 80 KDa, 50 KDa, 6.2 KDa, 3.5 KDa, 3.7 KDa and 3 KDa and in French bean 5 unique bands of 160 KDa, 77 KDa, 34 KDa, 6.3 KDa and 3 KDa were observed which could establish distinctive ness in the varieties. Dendrogram based on electrophoretic data clustered the maize genotypes in two major groups. Varieties viz. Purvikhera Local-1, Manacot, Chamoli Local and HQPM-1 showed 100% homology. Jaccard similarity coefficient ranged from 31% - 100% however dendrogram for French bean reveals 61% genetic similarity. Thus, protein profiling is a simple and useful technique to establish distinctiveness for plant variety identification and it can add value to the data on morphological DUS descriptor as stipulated by PPV and FR (Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer's Right) Authority of India for registration of new plant varieties for gaining farmer's right and breeder's rights.
