Diversity of the composition and content of soluble carbohydrates in seeds of the genus Vicia (Leguminosae)

Abstract

Low molecular weight carbohydrates of seeds of 10 species of Vicia, namely: V. angustifolia, V. articulata, V. cordata, V. ervilia, V. johannis, V. macrocarpa, V. monantha, V. narbonensis, V. pannonica and V. sativa were analyzed by the high resolution gas chromatography method. Seeds of the investigated species contain common (glucose, fructose, myo-inositol, sucrose, galactinol, di-galactosyl myo-inositol and raffinose family oligosaccharidesRFOs) and species-specific carbohydrates (D-pinitol and its a-D-galactosides-in V. articulata, V. monantha and V. pannonica or D-ononitol and its galactoside-in V. ervilia). Among the species containing in seeds RFOs as the main a-D-galactosides (V. angustifolia, V. cordata, V. johanensis, V. macrocarpa, V. narbonensis and V. sativa), an additional subgroup can be separated, which contains a set of unknown compounds (found in V. angustifolia, V. cordata and V. macrocarpa). Moreover, several other unidentified carbohydrate-containing compounds were detected exclusively in seeds of V. ervilia. The concentrations of total soluble carbohydrates (TSCs), including sugars, RFOs, cyclitols and galactosyl cyclitols and unknown compounds, in seeds differ significantly (P \ 0.05) among the species. RFOs and sucrose are the main fractions in TSCs, with the exception of V. pannonica seeds, containing more galactosyl pinitols, and V. ervilia, in which unknown compounds account for 50% of TSCs. In V. ervilia RFOs occur at the lowest concentration (9.32 mg g -1 seeds), and the concentration of DGMI (di-galactosyl myo-inositol) is comparable with that of RFOs, which is unusual among all the investigated Vicia species.

Raffinose family oligosaccharides in seeds of common vetch (Vicia sativa L. ssp. sativa)

“…The mean content of soluble carbohydrates in seeds of 66 accessions of common vetch used in the study has been reported earlier (Lahuta et al 2018), but without analyzing the relationship between a genotype's origin and its composition of carbohydrates. In the present study, the results of MANOVA indicate that the regions were significant (Wilk's =0.1870;F 7,190 =5.68; P<0.0001) with respect to differences in the content of each carbohydrate, as well as the total soluble carbohydrates (Total SCs) and total RFOs.…”

“…The composition and content of soluble carbohydrates were analyzed by the high resolution gas Lahuta et al (2018). Each carbohydrate was quantified by using authentic standards (sugars, cyclitols, oligosaccharides and galactinol) purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (USA).…”

“…Much less attention is paid to non-toxic raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), present in considerable amounts in seeds of legumes (up to 12% of dry weight-DW). In seeds of some Vicia species, the RFOs content reaches up to 10% DW (Lahuta et al 2018). RFOs are -D-galactosides of sucrose, containing 1-4 units of galactose linked by -1,6 linkages (they are: raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and ajugose, respectively).…”

“…In lentil seeds, a negative correlation between accumulation of verbascose and ciceritol (di-galactosyl pinitol A) has been found (Frias et al 1999). Beside myo-inositol, seeds of some Vicia species accumulate D-pinitol and their -D-galactosides -galactosyl pinitols (Lahuta et al 2018). The accumulation of higher amounts of galactosyl pinitols correlates with the reduction of RFOs, especially verbascose and stachyose (Lahuta et al 2010a, b).…”

“…The accumulation of higher amounts of galactosyl pinitols correlates with the reduction of RFOs, especially verbascose and stachyose (Lahuta et al 2010a, b). However, common vetch seeds accumulate myo-inositol as the only cyclitol and, beside RFOs, they accumulate traces of -D-galactosides of myo-inositol -galactinol and digalactosyl myo-inositol (Lahuta et al 2018). Thus, the reduction of RFOs in common vetch seeds seems to be possible via selection of genotypes with a lowered RFOs content or lowered content of verbascose, the predominant oligosaccharide in common vetch (Lahuta et al 2018).…”