Wheat germ agglutinin. Evidence for a genetic basis of multiple forms.

Germ from hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contained three forms of agglutinin separable by ion-exchange column chromatography at pH 3.8, while germ from tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L. (durum group)) contained only two such forms. The different number of forms, not due to protein modification occurring during the purification process, was demonstrable in commercial germ and in bran fractions containing germ from single wheat varieties. This evidence for a genetic basis of lectin multiple forms in wheat indicates the advisability of using genetically identified plant varieties in lectin research.