Bark storage Protein in Peach, Plum, and Cherry Trees

The main form of nitrogen reserves during overwintering are amino acids and proteins. Specific proteins called bark storage proteins (BSP) have been characterized in many tree species. To identify BSPs in `O'Henry' peach, `Angeleno' plum, and `Early Burlat' cherry trees, samples of bark were collected from January through December 1993 from trees growing under field conditions in Santiago, Chile. SDS-PAGE analyses were used to characterize the seasonal variation on the protein pattern on the bark of those Prunus species. A 60 kDa BSP was identified in the bark of all three species, which corresponds to the main protein present in the bark during the winter. This protein may play an important role as a nitrogen reserve in these fruit trees.