Physico-chemical properties and nutrient composition of beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus L.)

Physico-chemical properties of Beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus L.) seeds were evaluated and their proximate composition determined. Results were also compared with those of green pea (Pisum sativum) and field pea (Lathyrus sativus). Beach pea seeds had a very low grain weight, density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index as compared to green pea and field pea. The contents of crude protein (29.2%), crude fibre (12.0%), reducing sugars (0.2%), total phenolics (1.2%) and ash (3.0%), and total free amino acids (0.6%) of beach pea were substantially higher than other pea varieties examined. The contents of cysteine (1.6%), methionine (1.1%), and tryptophan (0.3%) in beach pea proteins were low, but higher than those in green pea and field pea varieties from Canadian and Indian cultivars. Beach pea lipids were dominated by linoleic acid (69.1%), and were similar to green pea (45.1%) and Canadian grown field pea (57.0%). The macroelements of beach pea were dominated by potassium (476 mg/100 g), phosphorus (413 mg/100 g), magnesium (1180 mg/100 g), and calcium (144 mg/100 g). The contents of microelements, namely manganese, zinc, and iron in beach pea were 3.5, 3.0 and 9.4 mg/100 g, respectively.