SEROLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS 



81 



are used, only the major constituents in the serum are in sufficient 

 quantity to yield a visible reaction, and antigens of an enzyme nature 

 are not detected. 



Somewhat similar work on the legume genus Phaseolus has 

 been done by Kloz (1962), but the number of species investigated at 

 this time (four) is too few to allow significant conclusions. However, 

 apparently significant serological differences exist, and it is likely that 

 the more extensive analysis in progress will provide further insight 

 into the relationships of the species in this genus. 



Earlier in this section it was stated that even in the 1920's 

 differences of opinion existed between the Konigsberg and Berlin ser- 

 ologists as to whether there were serological differences within a 

 plant, that is, whether different organs were serologically distinct. 

 Recently Kloz et al. (1960) have demonstrated unequivocally that 

 such differences exist and indeed often exceed inter-specific serological 

 differences. These workers compared the antigenic substances from 

 cotyledons, "subcotyledonous" parts (roots) of seedlings, and mature 

 leaves in Phaseolus vulgaris, P. coccineus, Glycine soja and Vicia faba. 

 They employed essentially the technique of the Rutgers group. Some 

 of their precipitin results (in per cent) are given below. 



Phaseolus vulgaris (antiserum of cotyledons against sera from 

 cotyledons of the following species): 



P. vulgaris 100 



P. coccineus 88.2 



Glycine soja 3.4 



Vicia faba 1.8 



Phaseolus vulgaris (antiserum of leaves against sera from 

 leaves of the following species): 



P. vulgaris 100 



P. coccineus 89.7 



Glycine soja 41.7 



Vicia faba 19.9 



Comparison between serological properties of individual or- 

 gans of the same species, data taken from P. vulgaris. 



Antiserum against cotyledons tested against sera from the 

 following sources: 



cotyledons 100 



subcotyledons 8.9 



leaf 5.2 



