Qualitative differences of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) proteins influenced by Ca2+ nutrition

The effect of Ca-deficiency on changes in the protein content of cotyledons and roots of germinating pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo L.) plants was studied by means of immunoelectrophoresis. Antiserum against seed proteins gave 11 clear precipitation zones in homological reactions and 7 zones with proteins from cotyledons of 10 day-old plants. Several less mobile zones in the area of start appeared in variant “−Ca”. Using antiserum against root proteins of 10 day-old control plants, 8 precipitation zones in the homological reaction and 6 zones (two cathodic zones are missing) in the heterological reaction were obtained. The patterns of proteins from the root and those arising from the protein of seed are both changed under Ca-deficiency.