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Abstract Detail



Crops and Wild Relatives

Nettleton, Colton [1], Herron, Sterling [2], Rubin, Matthew [3], Miller, Allison [4].

Nutritive Differences Between Seeds of Annual & Perennial Grass Pea (Lathyrus L.).

In the face of a changing environment and human population increases, novel approaches to sustainable agriculture are necessary to ensure food and ecosystem security. One potential solution is the implementation of crop systems based on perennial plants. Compared to annuals, perennials offer greater ecosystem services such as reduced levels of erosion and higher water-use efficiency. An important question related to the use of perennial grains is whether or not nutrition between perennial crop candidates and annual relatives differ. This project investigates the differences in nutritionally important ion concentrations between closely related annual and perennial species. To do this, we compared ion concentrations in the seeds of three perennial species and three annual species of the agriculturally relevant legume genus Lathyrus L. Three wild seed accessions were acquired from the USDA for each species, yielding 18 samples from diverse years of harvest. The concentrations of 21 ions, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium which are necessary for vital cellular activity, were measured using a whole-seed acid digest followed by mass spectrometry. We used linear models to test for differences between annual and perennial species, including a nested term to test for variation among only annuals or perennial species, while controlling for seed age. The data indicates substantial natural variation in ion concentrations among perennial Lathyrus species which suggests underlying genetic variation, an important consideration for the development of new crops. Specifically, high amounts of variation in aluminum and magnesium were seen in perennial species. For the annual species, variation was highest in calcium and magnesium concentrations. Additionally, three of 21 ions differed in their concentrations in the seeds of perennial species when compared to seeds of annual species. Species with an annual lifespan had significantly higher levels of Calcium and Strontium while perennial species had higher levels of Rubidium. The relatively minor differences in ion concentrations between annuals and perennial Lathyrus species indicates that nutritional value related to these ions may be comparable. These data suggest perennial species may be good candidates for pre-breeding and domestication.


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Related Links:
Miller Lab Website
The Land Institute


1 - Saint Louis University, 3507 Laclede Ave., Macelwane Hall 301, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103, United States
2 - Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Miller Lab, 975 N Warson Road, St. Louis, MO., 63132, USA
3 - Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, Miller Lab, St. Louis, MO, 63132, United States
4 - Saint Louis University/Danforth Plant Science Center, Biology, 3507 Laclede Avenue, Macelwane Hall, St. Louis, MO , 63110, USA

Keywords:
Perennial
annual
nutrition
legume
perennial agriculture
inorganic ions.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: CWR1, Crops and Wild Relatives
Location: Tucson D/Starr Pass
Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Time: 9:00 AM
Number: CWR1005
Abstract ID:739
Candidate for Awards:None


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