Novel application of quantitative immunoassays for screening seed globulins of cowpea varieties.

Using antibodies raised in rabbits, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are standardized for cowpea (var. Pusa Barsati) seed globulins. The RIA, when used to screen three stages of seed development, reveals that maximum globulins are detected at 28 days after flowering. When three different varieties of cowpea are assayed for their globulin content by RIA and ELISA, it is observed that the Bold Grain cowpea has the highest amount of related globulin as compared to two other varieties, namely Pusa Phalgun and Asparagus Bean.