Lathyrus Lathyrism Newsletter 4 (2005) 10 Characterization of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) entries by means of agronomically useful traits G. B. Polignano1 1* , P. Uggenti 1 , G. Olita 1 , V. Bisignano 1 , V. Alba 2 and P. Perrino 1 1. Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, C.N.R., Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italia 2. Dipartimento di Biologia Difesa e Biotecnologie Agro Forestali, Università della Basilicata, Potenza *E-mail: giambattista.polignano@igv.cnr.it Introduction Grass pea or chickling pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a diploid (2n=14), self-pollinated annual with branched, straggling, or climbing habit, blue (sometimes violet or white) flowers and characteristic smooth seed with pressed sides (16) . The center of origin and diversification of the Lathyrus gene pool is in the Mediterranean region (15) . The earliest archaeological remains of Lathyrus appear in the Neolithic in the Balkans and Near East of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran and Turkey (4) . According to Kupicha (8) , the genus Lathyrus contains about 150 species but only L. sativus is widely cultivated for human consumption, particularly in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Nepal and Pakistan (10) . In Italy, this crop has mostly disappeared and today it is no longer seen as the ‘food of the poor’ as it was in the past. Fortunately, grass pea is still used by local populations in marginal areas, and sold in some marketplaces. Emerging global and national strategies on sustainable farming systems, sustainable development and the preservation of biological diversity reflect concern at adequate quantification of local biodiversity. Consequently, researchers, farmers and policy makers have focused their attention on the neglected and/or underutilised crops to improve the food security, nutrition and economic welfare of humans all around the world (5) . In Italy, among these species the grain legume grass pea has received renewed attention as a local and typical product, it is becoming an exclusive and fashionable food for which discerning consumers are prepared to pay a higher price than for other pulse products. In addition, the most interesting agronomical feature of the species are drought tolerance, resistance to pests and diseases, adaptability to different types of soil as well as to adverse climatic conditions (9) . Despite these and other advantages, L. sativus is inadequately exploited and studied. In fact, it is well known that this crop is grown mainly as landraces; their genetic diversity is used and maintained largely by a small number of farmers in very limited areas of central southern Italy. In other words, valuable genetic resources of L. sativus are exposed to the threat of genetic erosion and disappearance. Therefore collection and storage of germplasm and deeper knowledge of the nature, entity, and geographical distribution of the residual genetic variation is recommended for the benefit of both direct users and crop improvement programmes (12) . In this regard it is important to underline that the consumption of L. sativus seeds by humans and animals has been limited by presence of a neurotoxin known as β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminoproprionic acid (β-ODAP) in the seeds, which when taken in large quantity can lead to “lathyrism” a disease causing paralysis of the limbs (3) . With that premise, breeding programmes evolving genotypes combining high yield with high protein content and low neurotoxin (ODAP) are in progress all over the world (7) . At the same time it was felt that it was necessary to evaluate and describe the genetic diversity available in the grass pea collections (2,6,10,11,12) . In other words there is a need to survey, collect, conserve and characterise the valuable resources of the Lathyrus species germplasm for the benefit of both users and crop improvement programmes. The main objective of the present research was to study the variation in a collection of grass pea entries with respect to yield capacity and other important agronomic traits (such as biomass) with the aim of a direct utilisation of the most promising material and their use in cross combinations for breeding purposes. Material and Methods Seventy-six grass pea entries of different geographical origin were used. These were subset of the whole collection including entries characterized by desirable traits: erect plants, high podded node, early flowering, high seed yield, big and light seeds, high biomass, low ODAP content and high protein content. All entries were grown in 2002-2003 winter season on clay-sand soil at the experimental farm “Pantanello”, belonging to the Basilicata region, at Metaponto (Matera) in southern Italy. Generally the climate in the Metaponto area (0-300m a.s.l.) is a strong Mediterranean type with an annual rainfall less than 600 mm and an annual temperature trend consisting of mild or absent winters and hot summers. Sowing was done in mid November after a deep summer plowing and two secondary tillages. During summer tillage 120 kg/ha