Effect of Rhizobium Inoculation, Phosphorus and Nitrogen Supplements on Protein Quality in Developing Lentil (Lens culinaris) Seeds Sital J S, Kaur Kiranpreet, Sharma Sucheta, Sandhu J S**, Singh Sarvjeet* Department of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India * Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India. jssital_biochem@yahoo.co.in ** Indian Coucil of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110114, India Abstract Field trials were conducted to observe the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, phosphorus and nitrogen supplements on protein quality in developing lentil (Lens culinaris) seed. Lentil seed variety (LL 699) recommended for cultivation was sown in the experimental fields. Seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium legminosarum and soil was presupplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus as urea and single super phosphate (SSP) sources, respectively. The designed treatments viz. T1 (control without Rhizobium inoculation, phosphorus and nitrogen supplements), T2 (phosphorus), T3 (nitrogen), T4 (Rhizobium inoculation + phosphorus) and T5 (Rhizobium inoculation + nitrogen + phosphorus) were given before sowing. During seed development, effect of treatments on various protein fractions and nitrate reductase (NR) activity was observed as well as protein quality parameters in mature seeds were determined. Maximum rate of accumulation of total soluble proteins, albumins, globulins, prolamins and glutelins was at 35 days after flowering (DAF) with T5 followed by T4, T3 and T2 than control T1. Globulins constituted major storage protein fraction. Nitrate Reductase (NR) activity in leaves was maximum at 14 DAF while in pod wall and seed it was at 21 DAF and then declined showing translocation of nitrogen from pod wall to seed, synchronized with protein deposition in seed. Seed storage protein globulins and sulfur rich amino acid methionine, the protein quality parameters also increased maximally with T5. Higher response due to nitrogen and phosphorus supplements along with Rhizobium inoculation (T5) showed a combined synergistic effect. Top Key words Lentil, seed quality, globulins, legumin, Rhizobium, single superphosphate, urea. Top |