Unveiling the mess of red pottage through gel electrophoresis: a robust and reliable method to identify Vicia sativa and Lens culinaris from a mixed lot of split “red dal”

摘要

Due to similarity in seed texture, colour and size of vetch (Vicia sativa) with lentil (Lens culinaris), these two legumes are mixed when split as "dal" to fetch higher prices. The sole marketing as split seed of vetch cultivar "Blanche fleur" under the false name of "red dal" or its mixing with lentil created hue and cry during the last decade of previous millennium in most of the South Asian countries including Middle East. Identification of vetch from lentil was only possible through modern biochemical techniques involving sophisticated equipment and technical skill. One hundred and ten samples of split red dal along with reference sample for both the species collected from various grain markets were analyzed through SDS-PAGE technique for three times, starting in 2001 with the interval of five years. The seed protein profiling was employed for distinguishing these two legumes belonging to different genera that were successfully utilized and the information was shared with researchers to create awareness among the consumers through print media. Varying degrees of mixing was observed that was gradually deceased during second and third sampling phase which was mainly due to robust information generated and dispersed. The electrophoretic pattern indicated a clear-cut differentiation of V. sativa from L. culinaris, hence this technique is very effective for species identification.