Self-incompatibility alleles control a low molecular weight, basic protein in pistils of Petunia hybrida.

Proteins extracted from the pistils of several clones of Petunia hybrida carrying differing pairs of S alleles were examined by gel electrophoresis. The major protein of pistils, a basic glycoprotein of relatively low molecular weight, showed properties which varied in a simple manner with the S genotype. For each S allele we were able to assign a specific molecular weight (ranging from 27,000 to 33,000) and isoelectric point (in the range 8.3 to 8.7) for this putative S protein. Pistils homozygous at the S locus showed only one major protein on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, while pistils from plants heterozygous at the S locus showed two. No evidence was obtained for the presence of this putative S protein in pollen extracts.