Growth, yield and neurotoxin (ODAP) concentration of three Lathyrus species in mediterranean-type environments of Western Australia

Abstract

The growth, phenology, grain yield and neurotoxin (ODAP) content of Lathyrus sativus, L. cicera and L. ochrus were compared with a locally adapted field pea (Pisum sativum L.) to examine their potential as grain legumes in Western Australian farming systems. About 17 lines of each species were obtained from ICARDA, Syria, and grown at 3 agro-climatically different sites. In general, the 3 species were later flowering than field pea, especially L. cicera and L. ochrus; however, L. sativus was the last species to mature. The best Lathyrus lines produced biomass near flowering similar to field pea. At the most favourable site, grain yields were up to 1.6, 2.6 and 1.7 t/ha for L. sativus, L. cicera and L. ochrus respectively, compared with a field pea grain yield of 3.1 t/ha. There was considerable genotype and environmental variation in ODAP concentration in the seed. On average, the ODAP concentration of L. ochrus (6.58 mg/g) was about twice that of L. sativus, and L. cicera had the lowest ODAP concentration (1.31 mg/g). Given that Lathyrus spp. have not had the same breeding effort as field pea and other grain legumes in Australia, these results encourage further selection or breeding. In the shor-tseasoned, mediterranean-type environment of Western Australia, harvest indices and grain yields could be improved with early flowering. Low ODAP concentration should also be sought.

Variability of phenotypic and morphological characteristics of some Lathyrus sativus L. and Lathyrus cicera L. accessions and nutritional traits of their seeds

“…In our studies, L. cicera accessions as compared to grass pea, were characterized by a narrow range of pod number per plant (20.8-45.0) but markedly higher seed number per pod with a mean 2.3 versus 4.1 for grass pea and red pea, respectively. The Hanbury et al (1995) researches performed in Australia demonstrated that yield of L. cicera was generally much higher than of either L. sativus or L. ochrus and the promising lines of those species with high yielding and low b-ODAP were selected (Siddique et al 1996).…”

“…It is distributed in the Mediterranean basin countries (from Portugal to Italy, Balkan countries and the Crime, Crete, Aegean Isles, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), Caucasus, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia (Turkmenia to Pamir-Altai), and introduced into South Africa (IPGRI 2000). Hanbury et al (1995) and Siddique et al (1996) reported L. cicera to show very good adaptation to arid land in South Australia as a potentially high yielding feed grain/forage crop. Yield of Lathyrus cicera was generally much higher than that of L. sativus and the lines with both high yield and low ODAP have been identified (Hanbury et al 1995).…”

β-N-oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid, L-homoarginine, and asparagine contents in the seeds of different genotypes Lathyrus sativus L. as determined by UHPLC-MS/MS

“…Additionally, Siddique et al [28] indicated that the interaction between genotype and environment was minimal, but environment effects were large consideration for the variation in β-ODAP concentrations.…”

Lathyrus improvement for resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses: From classical breeding to marker assisted selection

“…Several Lathyrus species and in particular Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) have great potential as alternative pulses in many cropping systems around the world (Siddique et al, 1996). From a respectful funeral offering, in the ancient pyramids of Egypt (Mitchell, 1971), and a reputed aphrodisiac for which it received its scientific name (over the stamina generating food of the Bangladeshi land labourers), to end up banned from the food basket in Europe, India and Nepal because of its toxicity, grass pea had a very tumultuous history.…”