Development of low ODAP somaclones of Lathyrus sativus.

Lathyrus sativus is a grain legume high in protein (25-30%) that can be grown under limited moisture conditions. However, the Government of India has imposed a ban on its sale because of the association with human neurolathyrism in the population subsisting on it. Over the years, by mutation and conventional breeding, attempts were made to reduce the amount of oxalyl diamino propionic acid (ODAP), the chemical implicated in neurolathyrism. Although a decrease in ODAP was obtained, it was not stable. Therefore, biotechnological approaches offered the scope to develop strains that were either devoid of ODAP or contained low levels which were safe even with prolonged consumption. Intially reproducible in vitro regeneration protocols were not available. However, successful regeneration protocols were developed using leaf, root and internode explants of L. sativus cultivar P-24. About 300 in vitro regenerated plants were taken to the field, of which 102 survived and set seed. A wide range of