Collection and evaluation of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) germplasm of central Italy

Abstract

Characterization of 16 grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) accessions collected in central Italy (Marche region) was performed for morphological and agronomic traits and for 3-(-N-oxalyl)-L-2,3 diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) content. Field trials, carried out in two locations, revealed high among-population genetic variation. In particular, an evident differentiation between commercial populations, cultivated by market-oriented farms, and household populations (not marketoriented) was found. Genotype · environment interaction was negligible. Medium-high values of ODAP content were observed following colorimetric and capillary electrophoresis analyses. A high positive correlation between the two methods was found (r ¼ 0.83**), but the colorimetric values showed, on average, significant 14% lower ODAP values. This research represents a pre-breeding activity aimed at developing a breeding programme for the preservation and utilization of Italian grasspea germplasm within sustainable or organic agricultural systems.

Environmental effect on yield, composition and technological seed traits of some Italian ecotypes of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

“…Levels below 2 g kg −1 are generally considered safe for humans. The ODAP levels recorded in this study (Table 4) were comparable to those reported in the literature for other Italian local populations,21, 22, 37 but they were higher than the mean value reported by Grela et al 23 for grass pea accessions cultivated in the Mediterranean basin (0.847 g kg −1 ) and lower than those detected in exotic accessions 15, 28, 29, 36, 37. The ecotypes Calitri, Carife, Marchigiano, Monti Frentani and Pietranera, characterised by especially high ODAP levels at Guardia Perticara in the first growing season, were excluded from the subsequent field trials.…”

“…With these concepts in mind, some studies aimed at investigating the genetic variation present within the Italian germplasm have started recently. Tavoletti and co‐workers19–21 evaluated the differentiation of morphological, agronomic and genetic traits detectable in local populations from central Italy. Granati et al 22 and Grela et al 23 compared the seed composition of some Italian populations with that of exotic accessions.…”

Molecular marker analysis of genetic variation characterizing a grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) collection from central Italy

“…In the present study, the focus was on populations of a relatively restricted area. Genetic variation for agronomic and quality traits had already been detected among these populations in previous field investigations (Tavoletti and Capitani 2000, Tavoletti et al. 2005).…”

“…2003). In particular, a grasspea collection including accessions collected mainly in the Marche region has been assembled (Tavoletti et al. 2005).…”

“…The populations belong to a germplasm collection (Fig. 1) which has already been evaluated for agronomic and quality traits (Tavoletti and Capitani 2000, Tavoletti et al. 2005).…”