Intra-species variations in yield and quality in Lathyrus species: 1. Grasspea (L. sativus L.)

Variations in days to flowering and pod maturity, hay grain and straw yields; and concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADFom), neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom), and in vitro organic matter (OM) digestibility (IVOMD) in hay and straw; and grain CP and beta-N-oxalyl diamino propionic acid (beta-ODAP) were examined in 25 accessions of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) grown over five cropping seasons in a non-tropical dry area in north-west Syria. Days to flowering (92-103 days) and pod maturity (145-157 days); and yields (kg/ha) of hay (1927-2658), straw (2891-3421), and grain (657-978) varied (P<0.05) among accessions. Concentrations (g/kg DM) of hay CP (193-212), ADFom (195-211), aNDFom (338-368) and IVOMD (707-747, g/kg OM); straw CP (73-97), ADFom (245-278), aNDFom (523-613) and IVOMD (510-575 g/kg OM); and grain CP (280-296) also varied (P<0.05) among accessions. Days to flowering was correlated with grain yield (r = -0.54, P<0.01) and harvest index (r = -0.73, P<0.01). Straw CP was correlated with hay CP (r = 0.64, P<0.001) and IVOMD (r = 0.68, P<0.001), and straw IVOMD was correlated with aNDFom (r = -0.73, P<0.001). Overall, days to flowering and pod maturity, as well as hay, grain and straw yields, and quality, varied among grasspea accessions. Yields and quality of hay, grain and straw could be used to identify promising grasspea accessions, and grasspea accessions 528, 535, 553, 559,561 and 563 have greater potential for production of hay and grain in non-tropical dry areas. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.