Cluster bean-a ureide- or amide-producing legume?

Xylem sap of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. cv FS-277) and pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan cv UPAS-120) were analyzed for total nitrogen, amide nitrogen, and ureide nitrogen at flowering stage. Nitrogenase, uricase, and allantoinase were compared in nodules of cluster bean and pigeonpea. Xylem sap of cluster bean exhibited higher amounts of amides as compared to ureides, and the activities of uricase and allantoinase (ureide-producing enzymes) in nodules were also low, whereas the reverse was the case for pigeonpea. Based on these investigations, it has been concluded that cluster bean is an amide-producing legume rather than ureide-producing as had been reported earlier.