Seed storage proteins as a protein marker for identification and characterization of QPM and normal maize inbred lines

Twenty maize inbreds has been studied through seed storage protein markers for approaching characterization among three groups of maize inbreds viz., low, intermediate and high lysine and tryptophan containing QPM and normal lines. SDS-PAGE of protein fractions showed variation into the three groups of maize inbreds. When comparing four fractions of total soluble proteins, they exhibit a range of variable bands some polypeptides were specifically express in QPM lines, could group the maize lines into two main clusters, QPM and normal maize lines. From these findings, it can be concluded that, the newly separated polypeptide protein bands could be used as a biochemical protein marker which indirectly help for the selection and development of QPM maize inbred lines. Thus, electrophoresis of protein fractions is useful to differentiate QPM and normal inbred lines based on variation in banding pattern.