Electrophoretic Identification of Agrostis palustris and <i>Poa pratensis</i> Cultivars¹

Abstract

The feasibility of creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis palustris Huds.) and Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) cultivar identification by acrylamide gel disc electrophoresis was investigated. Fresh leaf protein was extracted at 4 C by grinding in a mortar with a 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 containing 0.1 M sodium ascorbate, 10 m M sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, 0.06 m M 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole, and 1.0 m M disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Tris and unmodified phosphate buffers proved unsuccessful. The protein extract was squeezed from the tissue and centrifuged at 10,000 g for 30 min at 4 C. The supernatant was used for electrophoresis. Electrophoresis was run with a 7% acrylamide gel and a Tris‐glycine electrode buffer, pH 8.3. Protein bands were stained with Coomassie Blue. Six creeping bentgrass cultivars could be individually distinguished. Ten Kentucky bluegrass cultivars were examined. Six could be placed into groups of two, and two could be identified singly, while two showed no characteristic banding.