Methodological Approaches to Simple Enzyme Polymorphism Analyses of Amaranth Species (Amaranthus SP.)

Amaranths have drawn a great interest in last years as an agronomic crop, alternative energy source and ornamental plants around the world. Several of them are cultivated as the leaf vegetables, cereals, or as the colourful, quick growing garden plants. Increasing demand for the breeding and proteomic study in Amaranthus species led us to test some methodological approaches to enzyme polymorphism analysis. For these experiments genotypes of Amaranthus cruentus L. (genotype Ficha) and mutant line of hybrid K-433 were selected, characterized by a good seed quality and quantity, suitable for food production. The attention was devoted to test of published methodology, which were slightly modified for enzyme (ACP, ADH, CAT, DIA, GOT, IDH, MDH, PGD, PGI and PGM) multiplicity analysis for amaranths and testing of feasibility of chosen analysed organ weights, dimensions of Whatman No. 2 wicks and different volumes of extract buffer. Results from enzyme multiplicity analysis are presented by means of photographed fingerprints and phenotypes are expressed in diagrams where positions of zymograme bands are marked by using factors of relative mobility (Rm).