USE OF Tetrahymena pyriformis W TO EVALUATE PROTEIN QUALITY OF LEAF PROTEIN CONCENTRATES

The protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis W was used to test quality of protein concentrates from Chenopodium leaves (LPC) in the unprocessed, frozen, freeze‐dried, decolorized, or oven‐dried states. All unsupplemented LPCs supported poor cell growth except the decolorized, when isonitrogenous casein was used as reference standard. Supplementation with methionine to a level equivalent to casein improved growth highly significantly; as did the combined methionine and lysine supplementation. It appeared that LPC under suitable conditions of preparation and supplementation could improve cereal‐based diets to the same degree as an equivalent amount of protein from casein. Use of this organism for routine assay of available protein is encouraging enough to warrant further research.