Genetic variations in accessions of Lathyrus sativus L.

Abstract

Eighteen grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) accessions (donated from USDA germplasm) collected from different geographical regions were evaluated for variations of seed weight, and seed protein content.Environmental factors may not be most appropriate for explaining variations in seed weight.The presence of small-seeded accessions in Eastern Africa possibly indicate this sub-region as a new center of origin of L. sativus.There were no correlations between protein content and seed weight indicating genetic independence.Multivariate analysis (cluster and factor analysis) based on protein analysis data showed a high genetic variability among the accessions of different geographical regions and a low variability among the accessions of the same region.