Identification and Characterization of Low and High Ricin Containing Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Genotypes

Identification and Characterization of Low and High Ricin Containing Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Genotypes

Ricin is a most potent phototoxic protein found in castor seeds. The presence of highlym toxic compound restricts its use as animal feed and also increase down steam processing during seed cake production. Present investigation showed different developmental stages of ricin accumulation in castor seed, different forms of ricin, low and high ricin containing genotypes and oil content. SDS-PAGE analysis of ricin protein from different days of seed development (25 and 60 days after pollination) showed the absence of ricin in developing seeds until 25 DAP. Two distinct sharp bands were observed having molecular weight of 32kDa (Ricin A-chain) and 34 kDa (Ricin B-chain) under reduced condition from seed of 60 DAP and that confirms the presence of ricin at this stage of seed development. 2 -D gel electrophoresis revealed three isoforms of ricin out of which only III was found in ANDCH- 11-1 with a series of 5 different spots having isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 5.5-8.7. ELISA analysis showed that ANDCI-1 had the highest ricin content in seeds (54.3.18 ng μg-1 of protein) which could be used as cancer therapeutic treatment and chemotherapy whereas, ANDCP-06-07 (0.78 ng μg-1) was found with least ricin percent as well as high oil content which could be good candidate source of seed cake.