Species Relationships in the Genus Lens as Indicated by Seed-Protein Electrophoresis

Abstract

Seed-protein profiles of the cultivated lentil, Lens culinaris, and two wild species, L. orientalis and L. nigricans, were similar, thereby corroborating the close morphological and cytogenetic affinities of these three taxa. Morphologically, the wild species, L. ervoides, is distinct from the other three species and appears to be cross-incompatible with them. The divergent position of L. ervoides in the genus is also reflected in its seed-protein profile, which differs from the other species both in the number and position of bands.