Lathyrus Sativus Research Articles

Evaluating warm‐season annual forages to fill summer forage gaps in short‐season climates

AbstractAnnual warm‐season forages have been used to fill productivity and nutritional gaps during summer months throughout the southeastern United States. However, their performance and nutritive value in cooler, short‐season temperate climates above 40 °N has been less well studied. This study evaluated the forage mass and nutritive value of four warm‐season annual forages {brown midrib [BMR] sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor ssp. Drummondii (L.) Moench], buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), Japanese millet [Echniochloa esculenta (A. Braun) H. Scholz], and teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter]} compared with a cool‐season small grain forage, oat (Avena sativa L.), and a cool‐season annual forage legume, chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus L.). Monocultures of the six annual forage species, along with a mixture of all six species, were evaluated over 2 years in southeastern New Hampshire. Forage mass and nutritive value were assessed at weekly intervals over 3 weeks in July–August, approximately 4‐to‐5 weeks post‐germination. Across all three harvests, buckwheat, Japanese millet, and the summer mix produced greater forage mass than oat, while chickling vetch and teff produced the least. Conversely, chickling vetch had greater crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber compared with oat, while buckwheat had the lowest CP, in vitro true dry matter digestibility, and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility of all the species assessed. Japanese millet produced greater forage mass while providing similar nutritive value as oat, making it a good alternative warm‐season annual forage for use under cool, short growing seasons.

Soil amendments for improving grain quality of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) under drought

AbstractBackgroundUse of soil amendments in agriculture is an old practice and with increase in demand of organic agriculture, it is gaining more attention. Work on the quality of the produce more particularly if crop faces any adverse situation like drought are scarce. This paper provides a comparative assessment of organic (farm yard manure) and inorganic (biochar) soil amendments on grain quality of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) when crop faces drought. Different grain quality parameters were studied along with crop health and grain yield under the application of soil amendments during drought.ResultsBiochar and farm yard manure (FYM) lowered drought‐induced leaf water potential (upto 22%) and root nitrate reductase activity (by 62% and 67% respectively). Both inorganic and organic soil amendments improved in vitro protein digestibility (up to 16% and 37% respectively). Whereas higher grain phytic acid content (increased up to 40%) was noted from application of organic amendment (FYM) compared to inorganic (16% increase in biochar treated plots). Protein yield is enhanced (8%) under the application of Biochar‐enhanced protein yield by 8% when crops experienced drought at vegetative stage, whereas FYM reduced it by 9% under the same situation.ConclusionTested soil amendments can improve grain quality of grass pea. However, they were not equally efficient when the crop experienced drought at either stage of growth. Thus, screening of soil amendment is important when added under stressful situation like drought to ascertain better grain quality for consumers.

The identification and characterization of an oxalyl-CoA synthetase from grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.).

Oxalic acid is a small metabolite found in many plants. It serves as protection from herbivores, a chelator of metal ions, a regulator of calcium levels, and additional tasks. However, it is also a strong di-carboxylic acid that can compromise plant viability by reducing cellular pH. Several metabolic pathways have evolved to control oxalate levels in plants by enzymatic degradation. Among them is the pathway that utilizes oxalyl-CoA synthetase (OCS, EC 6.2.1.8) and ATP to convert oxalate to oxalyl-CoA. Oxalyl-CoA can then be degraded to CO2 or utilized as a precursor for the synthesis of other compounds. In grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), a grain legume grown in Asia and Africa for human and animal consumption, the neurotoxic compound β-N-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) is synthesized from oxalyl-CoA and l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (l-DAPA). Here, we report on the identification and characterization of oxalyl CoA-synthetase from grass pea (LsOCS). The gene encoding LsOCS was amplified from grass pea, and then expressed and purified from E. coli cells as an untagged, monomeric protein of 56 kDa. Its catalytic efficiency with oxalate, KoxalateM = 71.5 ± 13.3 μM, Vmax = 8.2 ± 0.8 μmole min−1 mg−1, was similar to that of OCS homologs from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtAAE3) and Medicago truncatula (MtAAE3). The enzyme was crystalized in complex with AMP and is the first OCS whose structure was determined in the thioester-forming conformation. Finally, we propose that substituting LsOCS with an oxalate oxidase or decarboxylase may reduce the levels of β-ODAP in grass pea.

Water uptake kinetics in soaking of grass pea

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a pulse of great importance for food and feed due its high resistance to poor environmental conditions. However, it contains anti-nutritional factors and a neurotoxin, which is partially lost during soaking. A first approach to mass transfer during the soaking of grass pea was carried out by modeling the water uptake during soaking time using empirical mathematical models. The water uptake behavior was successfully described by the Peleg and the Exponential models, with these models showing several advantages when compared to the Mitscherlich and Page models. Both models estimated an increase of the equilibrium moisture content at temperatures between 50 °C and 100 °C, and detected an increasing effect of the area per volume ratio of the seed on the water uptake rate, but only at 75 °C and 100 °C. Additionally, grass pea presented a high true porosity, 13.651%, showing that it contains a large empty volume into which water can enter by capillary flow. Solids loss was observed to be high, varying from 18% at 25 °C to 44% at 100 °C for long soaking times, confirming that its effect in soaking cannot be neglected.

Nutritional evaluation of few grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genotypes of Assam

The grass pea genotypes exhibited significant variability in their proximate composition with moisture content ranging from 8.46 to 10.39% (on fresh weight basis), crude protein: 26.24 - 29.70%, crude fat: 1.19 - 2.34%, total carbohydrate: 50.85 - 55.34%, crude fibre: 6.57 - 8.67% and ash content from 2.68 - 3.92% on dry weight basis. Grass pea contained sodium, potassium, zinc and manganese in the range of 18.76 - 44.14 mg/100g, 710 - 1060 mg/100g, 3.03 - 5.01 mg/100g and 1.10 - 1.81 mg/100g on dry weight basis, respectively. Tannin, phenol, flavonoid, phytic acid and BOAA/ODAP content of grass pea genotypes ranged from 5.58 - 8.39 mg/g, 0.27 to 2.15 mg GAE/g, 0.02 - 0.34 mg QE/g, 5.33 - 9.57 mg/g and 0.47 - 2.23 mg/g on dry weight basis, respectively. Of the eleven grass pea genotypes used in the study, Prateek, Ratan and Mahateora showed significantly low amount of BOAA/ODAP content. Local Khesari and Boga Khesari showed average contents of nutritional characteristics. However, they were having a very high antinutritional constituents.

In vitro salinity stress mediates grass pea genotypes' (Lathyrus sativus L.) responses

This study was carried out to determine the tolerance of grass pea genotypes to salinity stress at callus and seedling stages under in vitro conditions. The calli and seedlings of six selected tolerant genotypes based on the primary screening in the field were separately exposed to salinity treatments (0, 125 mM) in vitro. Salinity was imposed with NaCl during in vitro culture, and it significantly affected all seedling traits. Genotype of Iran had the lowest seedling dry weight and therefore was more sensitive to salinity stress. According to salinity tolerance indices for seedlings, genotype Greece-III was characterized as high-yield and relatively high?salt-tolerant genotype. Salinity significantly affected callus size, callus RWC, callus RGR, and callogenesis index. Calli fresh and dry weights were not affected by the treatments. For callus dry weight, genotype Greece-III had the highest mean; and the lowest mean belonged to Greece-I. The stress tolerance indices showed that the highest values belonged to genotype Greece-III, which showed high yield and yield stability and so reasonable salinity tolerance. Cluster analysis divided the genotypes into two separate groups. The first cluster consisted of Iran, Greece-II, and Greece-III genotypes, and the second cluster consisted of Bangladesh, Canada, and Greece-I genotypes. Cluster analysis potentially separated the tolerant and sensitive genotypes to salinity in terms of callus dry weight. Grass pea callus and seedlings were able to survive at 125 mM salinity. Salinity did not affect callus dry and fresh weights, but its effect was remarkable on seedling dry and fresh weights (55% less than control). Therefore, calli were reasonably salinity tolerant. The present study suggests that grass pea was reasonably tolerant to salinity and can survive under salinity conditions during the seedling and callus stages.

Induced, identify and study the impact colchicine treated Lathyrus sativus L. (Var. Prateek)

India's third-most significant dual purpose cold season pulse crop, lathyrus, covers 0.58 million acres and produces 0.43 million tonnes annually. Increasing vegetative growth might be a practical method of increasing feed output. Inducing auto-polyploidy and comparing the polyploids to their diploid counterparts are the two main objectives of this investigation, to find out whether polyploidy has any advantages over its diploid counterparts. Three different colchicine concentrations were used to treat the seeds of the Prateek genotypes of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) to induce polyploidy (0.02 percent, 0.04 percent and 0.05 percent). Their diploid counterparts were compared to see how polyploidy differ them. Observations of stomata, nucleus size, plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area, and number of leaves are all morphological attributes that are more varied. There are considerable variations in flower and seed proportions. The amount of seeds and stomatal cells were significantly different in a negative way. Size of the nucleus (µm2), stomatal length and width(µm), blossom length (cm) and width (cm), days to first blooming, number of flowers per plant, number of seeds per plant, seed length (mm), seed width (mm) and ten seed weight were all found to have positive significant differences. Induction of polyploidy produced a taller, more branching plant with an increase in seed weight of 10 seeds. This strategy could be used in plant breeding initiatives to increase the yield of fodder.

Estimation of crop losses due to major insect pests of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in Gangetic plains of Eastern India

At vegetative stage grass pea crop, was found infested mostly by a sucking pest viz., black pulse aphid (Aphis craccivora), while, gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera was an important pod boring insect during reproductive stage. The results revealed that the fully protected plot which was treated with Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.2 g/l of water and Indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.5 ml/l of water during vegetative stage and reproductive stage of the crop, respectively, had resulted the highest pod yield, avoidable crop loss and increase in yield over control. The results also suggested that if two rounds of spraying are allowed to control the pests, the crop should be sprayed with Thiamethoxam and Indoxacarb at aforementioned doses during both vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively. Otherwise, if single spraying would be allowed, the crop should be managed during vegetative stage to control aphids which had more damaging ability than pod borers.

Effects of Supplementing Finger Millet (<i>Eleucine coracana</i>) Straw with Grass Pea (<i>Lathyrus sativus</i> L.) Hulls and Concentrate Mixture on Feed Intake, Digestibility and Body Weight Change in Washera Sheep

The productivity of sheep in Ethiopia is very low mainly due to a serious shortage of feedstuff. As a result, it is necessary to look for cheap locally available feedstuffs to sustain sheep production in the country. Non-conventional feeds like grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) hulls (GPH) could partly fill the gap in the feed supply, decrease competition for food between humans and animals and reduce feed cost. Therefore, this experiment was designed to evaluate effects of different proportions of grass pea hulls and concentrate mixture (CM) supplementation on feed intake, digestibility, and growth of Washera sheep fed finger millet straw (FMS) as a basal diet. Diets consisted FMS alone fed ad libitum (T1), 100% CM (T2), 30% GPH mixed with 70% CM (T3), 30% CM mixed with 70% GPH (T4), and 100% GPH (T5). For all treatments, FMS was fed ad libitum. Experimental sheep were arranged in a randomized complete block design and treatment feeds were assigned to the animals within a block. The results showed that FMS contained 5.5% CP and 68.9% NDF. The supplements contained 21%, 20%, 16% and 14% CP; and 36%, 43%, 52% and 59% NDF for T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Supplementation improved (p resulted in the lowest ADG (p . While, animals in T1 lost a bodyweight of 5.6 g/day. As the proportion of GPH supplementation was greater than 30%, there was reduction (p T2 > T4 > T5. Therefore, from biological point of view as well as based on partial budget analysis, T3 was found to be recommendable for smallholder sheep producers.

Contrasting β-ODAP content correlates with stress gene expression in Lathyrus cultivars.

Lathyrus sativus, commonly known as grass pea, is a nutrient-rich pulse crop with remarkable climate-resilient attributes. However, wide use of this nutritious crop is not adopted owing to the presence of a non-protein amino acid β-N-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP), which is neurotoxic if consumed in large quantities. We conducted a de novo transcriptomic profiling of two ODAP contrasting cultivars, Pusa-24 and its somaclonal variant Ratan, to understand the genetic changes leading to and associated with β-ODAP levels. Differential gene expression analysis showed that a variety of genes are downregulated in low β-ODAP cultivar Ratan and include genes involved in biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, redox metabolism, hormonal metabolism, and sucrose, and starch metabolism. Several genes related to chromatin remodeling are differentially expressed in cultivar Ratan. β-ODAP biosynthetic genes in these cultivars showed differential upregulation upon stress. ODAP content of these cultivars varied differentially upon stress and development. Physiological experiments indicate reduced relative water content and perturbed abscisic acid levels in the low ODAP cultivar. Altogether, our results suggest that the low ODAP cultivar may have a reduced stress tolerance. The dataset provides insight into the biological role of ODAP and will be helpful for hypothesis-driven experiments to understand ODAP biosynthesis and regulation.

Biometric methods in studying the gene pool Indian pea

The article presents the results of using biometric methods for assessing the gene pool (using the example of the indian pea). The variation of traits of the model population of indian pea, as well as the correlation coefficients and factor loadings on the variables, is considered. The model population includes 25 samples of different ecological and geographical origin. The nursery was founded according to the scheme of a one-factor complex. Statistical indicators of the sample, coefficients of variation of signs were revealed: ˃20% - fat content in seeds, fat gather, fiber gather, 10-20% - height of attachment of the lower bean, number of twigs of the 1st order, number of beans per plant, number of seeds in a bean , number of seeds per plant, seed yield, pod width, gather of protein, ash, BEV per unit area, ˂10% - stem length, weight of 1000 seeds, plant productivity, pod length, content of protein, fiber, ash, BEV in seeds analysis of the experimental data, a matrix of correlation coefficients was calculated, including indicators of vegetative traits and the content of nutrients in the grain. In order to optimize the interpretation of the matrix of correlation coefficients, a factor analysis was performed using the method of principal components. Signs that determine the first, second and third hypothetical factors (stem length, lower bean attachment height, content of protein, fat, fiber, BEV, ash, number of seeds in a bean, weight of 1000 seeds, plant productivity, seed yield, gather per hectare of protein, fiber, ash, BEV, the number of seeds from one plant) determine 63,72% of the accumulated dispersion.

The effect of adding different levels of local grass pea on some qualitative traits of Japanese quail eggs

The effect of adding different levels of local grass pea on some qualitative traits of Japanese quail eggs

Evaluations of Grass Pea Relay Inter-Cropping with Wheat and its Mulching Effect on Vertisol in Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Evaluations of Grass Pea Relay Inter-Cropping with Wheat and its Mulching Effect on Vertisol in Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Ecological-genetic model in grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) breeding

Ecological model for organizing the quantitative traits and the method of orthogonal regressions were applied to evaluate both, aboveground and root biomass of grass pea varieties different originating. The study was conducted for three years. The highest yields for fresh aboveground biomass were BGE015741 (840.40 kg/da), LAT4362 (779.3 kg da-1) and BGE027129 (722.80 kg da-1). Plants of LAT4362 and BGE025277 have a higher weight of fresh aboveground mass and fresh root mass and exhibit a good combination of adaptive and attraction genes. The highest average seed yield was recorded at BGE015741 (158.40 kg da-1), BGE027129 (113.10 kg da-1) and BGE025277 (108.30 kg da-1). The BGE027129, BGE025277 and BGE015741 varieties are found of greatest interest with regard to seed weight per plant and they are suitable as initial materials for the purpose of combinatorial breeding for the obtaining of genotypes combining both, high seed weight and high root biomass weight per plant.

Effect Of Leguminous Winter Cover Crops On Soil Fertility And Yield Of Summer Maize

A field experiment was conducted at IAAS agronomy farm, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal from Nov. 2012 to Aug. 2013 to improve soil fertility and production of maize through the inclusion of leguminous winter cover crops in the cropping system. The experiment was conducted for two seasons in single factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments and three replications. Five N fixing legume crops: chickpea (Cicer arietinum), garden pea (Pisum sativum var. sativum), field pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense), lentil (Lens culinaris) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus); one N fixing legume fodder: Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum); one non-fixing legume: rajma bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); and maize (as a control) were cultivated in the first season and on the following season maize was cultivated in all plots after incorporating former crop residues. Rajma bean covered the highest area at an early stage but field pea and grass pea covered the maximum land area at a later stage. The highest dry matter production (2.32 t/ha) and nitrogen content in residues (2.57%) were obtained from lentil. Cultivation of leguminous winter cover crops had no significant effect on soil parameters. However, the incorporation of legume residues had significant effects on organic matter content, total nitrogen and available phosphorus in soils. The highest soil organic matter (3.03%) and total nitrogen (0.15%) was observed from field pea plots while the highest available phosphorus (36.00 kg/ha) was from berseem plots. Legumes cultivation and their residues incorporation into the soil had significant effects on grain, straw and dry matter yields of succeeding maize crop. Grain (3.92 t/ha), straw (5.39 t/ha) and dry matter (9.31 t/ha) yields were the highest from lentil plots while the lowest grain (2.51 t/ha), straw (3.96 t/ha) and dry matter (6.48 t/ha) from control plots. Total nitrogen uptake by maize was significant and it was the highest (141.90 kg/ha) from lentil plots and the lowest (109.80 kg/ha) from control plots. Cultivation of lentil in the winter produced satisfactory land coverage and incorporation of its residues into the soil was the best for improving soil fertility and succeeding maize yield under the Chitwan condition of Nepal.

FORAGE YEILD AND COMPITITION INDICES OF CEREALS MIXED INTERCROPPING WITH FORAGE LEGUMES IN SULAIMANI REGION

The present study was conducted in Sulaimani region at two different locations, Kanipanka and Qlyasan during winter season of 2019-2020 to estimate the response of forage yield and some competition indices to the effect of crop pure stands and their mixtures of barley and triticale intercropped with narbon vetch and grass pea with some different patterns. The experiment was designed according to Completely Randomized Block Design with three replications. As the average of both location the maximum green forage yield was produced by pure narbon vetch 32.610 ton ha-1, while pure barley produce maximum dry forage yield and dry matter % reached 5.506 ton ha-1 and 8.55% at booting stage respectively, but the crop mixture barley/grass pea at a rate 2:1 produce maximum green and dry forage yield 32.083 and 5.616 ton ha-1 respectively at booting stage. The crop mixture barley/vetch 1:1 gave maximum dry matter% 17.88% at the same stage. The highest value for total LER was 1.401recorded by the mixture of triticale/grass pea at elongation stage, while the highest relative crowding coefficient was 1.285 recorded by the same mixture at a rate 1:1 at the same cutting stage. Maximum competitive ratio for cereals was 3.652 recorded by barley in the mixture barley/grass pea 1:2 at elongation stage, while for legume it was 2.292 for narbon vetch in the mixture triticale/vetch 2:1 at booting stage.

Effect of Zinc and Iron on Growth and Productivity of Relay Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

A field experiment was designed to validate the effect of Zinc and Iron on growth and productivity of relay Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal. The experiment was carried out in BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal, India during rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18, following split-split plot design taking relay sowing of lathyrus in main plots [S1: Satabdi (IET 4786), S2: Swarna (MTU 7029)], three lathyrus varieties in sub plot (V1: Nirmal, V2: Prateek and V3: Ratan) and four foliar sprays at pre-flowering and pod development stages in sub – sub plot (F1: Control, F2: 0.5% FeSO4, F3: 0.5% ZnSO4 and F4: 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) with three replications. First date of sowing (S1) i.e., relay sowing of lathyrus in satabadi (IET 4786) and foliar spray of Fe and Zn, either alone or in combination performed better in terms of plant height, dry matter accumulation, CGR, LAI, LAD, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index of different lathyrus varieties due to higher radiation use efficiency and profile moisture contribution.

Dissection of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) root exoproteome reveals critical insights and novel proteins

The plant exoproteome is crucial because its constituents greatly influence plant phenotype by regulating physiological characteristics to adapt to environmental stresses. The root exudates constitute a dynamic aspect of plant exoproteome, as its molecular composition ensures a beneficial rhizosphere in a species-specific manner. We investigated the root exoproteome of grasspea, a stress-resilient pulse and identified 2861 non-redundant proteins, belonging to a myriad of functional classes, including root development, rhizosphere augmentation as well as defense functions against soil-borne pathogens. Significantly, we identified 1986 novel exoproteome constituents of grasspea, potentially involved in cell-to-cell communication and root meristem maintenance, among other critical roles. Sequence-based comparison revealed that grasspea shares less than 30 % of its exoproteome with the reports so far from model plants as well as crop species. Further, the exoproteome revealed 65 % proteins to be extracellular in nature and of these, 37 % constituents were predicted to follow unconventional protein secretion (UPS) mode. We validated the UPS for four stress-responsive proteins, which were otherwise predicted to follow classical protein secretion (CPS). Conclusively, we recognized not only the highest number of root exudate proteins, but also pinpointed novel signatures of dicot root exoproteome.

Adaptation of Grain Legumes to Transient Water Deficit in Timor-Leste

In Timor-Leste, it is possible to use residual soil water after rice harvest to produce grain legumes, despite the lack of supplementary irrigation. This study aimed to identify the growth of potential grain legumes adapted to transient water deficit after rice harvest. The experiment was undertaken in 2012 at the Hera Field Research of the National University of Timor Lorosa'e, representing lowland areas, and farmland in Aileu, representing highland areas. The experiment used a completely randomized design with two factors (water treatment and species) and three replications. Both sites had a well-watered control and drought treatment applied at flowering for 15 days before re-watering to maturity at the Hera site or five days when rain interrupted the treatment at the Aileu site. Grain legumes were peanut, soybean, kidney bean, white bean, speckled bean, cowpea (black), cowpea red, mungbean, and grass pea. The measured parameters included soil water content, pH and temperature, crop phenology, plant growth, yield, and yield components. The results showed that the Hera site had significantly lower soil water content than the control; no soil water measurement occurred at Aileu site due to rain interruption. On average, grain legumes at the Hera site germinated, flowered, set pods, and reached physiological maturity earlier than at the Aileu site. The fastest flowering species was soybean (48 DAS) at the Hera site and (winding) white bean at the Aileu site (61 DAS). The first species to set pods were mungbean, soybean, and kidney bean (55 DAS) at the Hera site and white and speckled beans (73 DAS) at the Aileu site. Mungbean matured first at both sites. Drought significantly reduced seed yield by 32.9% and 19.1% at the Hera and Aileu sites, respectively. At the Hera site, cowpea red and mungbean produced the highest seed yields (2.6 t/ha), followed by kidney bean (2.3 t/ha), and soybean (2.0 t/ha). At the Aileu site, cowpea black produced the highest seed yield (1.6 t/ha), with the remaining species between 1.2 t/ha (mungbean) and 0.02 t/ha (grass pea). The experiment identified mungbean, soybean, cowpea red, and kidney bean as the best grain legume options for lowland areas after rice harvest; further study is required for the upland areas. Kidney bean was the novel finding, tested for the first time in lowland areas, which had vigorous growth and high seed yield.

Genetic diversity of Lathyrus sativus L. collection and characteristics of seeds produced in Slovenia and Serbia

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a less common and nearly forgotten crop in many countries, including Slovenia and Serbia. In the present study, genetic analysis and seed characteristics of the collection of 21 grass pea accessions from Southeast Europe were examined. The collection was produced in an open-field experiment in two countries/ locations, i.e. Slovenia/Ljubljana – Jablje and Serbia/ Novi Sad – Rimski Šančevi, during the 2019 growing season. To analyse genetic diversity, specific high polymorphic SSR markers were applied. Initial screening at 12 species-specific SSR loci using binary data revealed great genetic diversity among the grass pea accessions within a collection and three genetic groups were formed. Differences in seed size were measured using descriptors for seed length, width and thickness, and 100-seed weight. Furthermore, several seed colour characters using IBPGR descriptors were visually assessed. The average seed length, width, and thickness of the seeds in the collection were 9.0 mm, 8.3 mm, and 5.4 mm, respectively, while 100-seed weight ranged considerably from 11.7 g to 38.9 g. The highest differences between growing location were seen for 100-seed weight where the coefficient of variability reached 23.5%. The examined grass pea accessions had less monochromatic (one colour) and more colourful seeds, with two or three colours. Based on the seed coat colour accessions were classified into several groups, the most numerous being yellow-white and yellow-green seeds. The data obtained will be the basis for describing Lathyrus sativus genetic resources in databases. Further genetic studies such as next-generation sequencing are suggested.