Author/Authors :
BEJIGA, G. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Ethiopia , ANBESSA, Y. Field Crop Development Centre, Canada , ABD EL-MONEIM, A.M. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria , KORBU, L. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research - DebreZeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia , FIKRE, A. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research - DebreZeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia , RYAN, J. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria , AHMED, S. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria , NAKKOUL, H. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria
Abstract :
Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) is an important food legume crop in Ethiopia. However, its nutritional value is hindered by β-ODAP that causes lathyrism in humans. The extent of toxicity is influenced by genetic and agronomic factors.We conducted an experiment to determine the effect of varieties and sowing dates on the β-ODAP content of the seeds and other yield components.Two varieties, Bio-520 and landrace, were planted on July 24, August 7 and 21, and September 4 in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 cropping seasons. Grasspea variety and season, significantly influenced β-ODAP content of the seeds.The highly significant variety x season interactions suggests that varieties behave differently in different seasons for their β-ODAP content. The main effects and interactions were highly significant for days-to-flowering and plant height. Although β-ODAP content of the varieties varied with season, the improved genotype always contained less β-ODAP concentration.Thus, while the development of low-toxin grasspea lines is the primary goal, modifying agronomic practices is also important to mitigate lathyrism.
Keywords :
Ethiopia , Lathyrus sativus , Lathyrism , neurotoxin
