Contents of total protein and β‐N‐oxalyl‐l‐α,β‐diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) in a collection of Lathyrus cicera of the Bank of Plant Germplasm of Cuenca (Spain)

Abstract

AbstractOne hundred and thirty‐four accessions of Lathyrus cicera from the Bank of Plant Germplasm of Cuenca (BGV‐Cuenca, Spain) have been analysed for total protein and β‐N‐oxalyl‐l‐α,β‐diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) contents in order to identify those with a suitable nutritional quality for animal feeding. There was a large variability in both traits, the content of total protein ranged from 22.95% to 30.98% with a mean value of 27.62%, and the ODAP from 0.09% to 0.30% with a mean value of 0.17%. The accessions from Castilla y León and Castilla‐La Mancha showed higher percentages of protein and ODAP as compared with those from Andalucía, Greece and Extremadura. Nevertheless, total protein and ODAP contents showed a low positive correlation (r = 0.396, P = 0.01). Several accessions showed a content of ODAP similar to that of the variety ‘Chalus’ and two accessions seemed very suitable for animal feeding because of their high content of protein and low ODAP.