Effect of seed size and testa colour on saponin content of Spanish lentil seed

Twenty cultivars of Lens culinaris Medik. were grown over 5 years in 18 provinces of Spain. Saponin content in the harvested seed ranged from 654 to 1269 mg kg−1. Two saponins were detected and identified as soyasaponins I and VI. Changes observed in the saponin content were found to be dependent on both seed size and testa colour. Lentils of the subspecies macrosperma were found to have a significantly higher saponin content (1105 mg kg−1) than seeds of the subspecies microsperma (929 mg kg−1). The total saponin content of seeds with a brown testa was significant lower (800 mg kg−1) than those with a beige or green testa (1106 and 1089 mg kg−1, respectively).