Ceric ammonium sulfate/sodium disulfite redox system was evaluated for the poly(acrylamide) (PAM) grafting on to Cassia reticulata (CR) seed gum. Grafting conditions were optimized and the maximum %Grafting (%G) and %Efficiency (%E) achieved were 152 and 97.2%, respectively, using [disulfite] 0.005M; [ceric ammonium sulfate] 0.026M; [acrylamide] 0.11M; [gum] 0.125 g/25mL at 40 +/- 0.2 degrees C. Representative CR-grafted gum (CRPAM) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Under identical conditions, the redox initiator could result 142.6 %G and 91.2 %E on to guar gum (GG). Various physical properties of the CR gum/grafted CR gum, such as viscosity, water retention, and saline retention, were studied and compared with GG/grafted GG to find out the potential industrial use of CR gum and PAM-grafted-CR gum. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.