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)

One 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 Leon and Castilla-La Mancha showed higher percentages of protein and ODAP as compared with those from Andalucia, 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.