Ecological and Geochemical Conditions for the Accumulation of Antioxidants in the Leaves of Lathyrus maritimus (L.) Bigel

The article explores how location affected the dynamics of accumulation of ascorbic acid (AC) and oxidized forms of AC—dehydroascorbic acid (DAA) and diketogulonic acid (DKGA) in beach pea during ontogenetic development. Our analysis focuses on research of the ecological and geochemical conditions growing of the plant on the Curonian Spit. The level of hydrogen peroxide and the activity of enzymes that break it down were analyzed. Antioxidant activity and the total concentration of phenolics were evaluated in the leaves of beach pea on the leeward and windward sides of the foredune. It was established that the level of AC, DAA, and DKGA was higher in the plants growing on the windward side of the foredune. A higher concentration of peroxy compounds, which stimulate the biosynthesis of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase), polyphenols, and other low molecular antioxidants (AOA) was observed in the leaves of these plants. The plants on the windward side enter phenological stages one or two weeks later than their counterparts on the leeward side of the foredune do. There was a generally negative correlation between the temperature of the soil and the accumulation of ascorbate system acids in the leaves of the studied plants (r = −0.46/(−0.68), p < 0.05). The accumulation of low molecular antioxidants and enzymes in beach pea suggests their adaptation to the adverse conditions of the windward side of the foredune.

HARDNESS PHENOMENON IN BEACH PEA (Lethyrus maritimus L.)

Beach pea is mostly grown on seashores and it contains higher amount of protein than other legumes. However, the pea has several undesirable attributes, such as long cooking time and hard to germinate (imbibitions) that limited its use as food. The present investigation aimed to study the physico-chemical properties, cooking characteristics and hull crude fibre structure of beach pea as compare to other similar legumes. Standard methods of processing pulses were used for present study. Beach pea seeds contained very low grain weight, density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index than the green pea and field pea. Beach pea had higher amount of crude protein, ash, crude fibre and polyphenols, but lower in starch content than the green pea and field pea. Without any treatment to beach pea seeds the water uptake capacity was very low. Mechanical treatment to beach pea seeds increased<br />the water uptake percentage. The recovery of hull was 3 to 6 times higher in beach pea than that of green pea and field pea. The crude protein content in beach pea hull was 2-5% higher than others. The beach pea hull, dhal and whole seeds were good source of macro- and micro- minerals than that of the other two peas. The electron microscopic structure of beach pea hull crude fibre showed a very close and compact structure than green pea and field pea hull crude fibre structure. Lowering the hardness of beach pea seeds with mechanical or chemical treatments will give more scope for their utilization in the human nutrition.

HARDNESS PHENOMENON IN BEACH PEA (Lethyrus maritimus L.)

Beach pea is mostly grown on seashores and it contains higher amount of protein than other legumes. However, the pea has several undesirable attributes, such as long cooking time and hard to germinate (imbibitions) that limited its use as food. The present investigation aimed to study the physico-chemical properties, cooking characteristics and hull crude fibre structure of beach pea as compare to other similar legumes. Standard methods of processing pulses were used for present study. Beach pea seeds contained very low grain weight, density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index than the green pea and field pea. Beach pea had higher amount of crude protein, ash, crude fibre and polyphenols, but lower in starch content than the green pea and field pea. Without any treatment to beach pea seeds the water uptake capacity was very low. Mechanical treatment to beach pea seeds increased<br />the water uptake percentage. The recovery of hull was 3 to 6 times higher in beach pea than that of green pea and field pea. The crude protein content in beach pea hull was 2-5% higher than others. The beach pea hull, dhal and whole seeds were good source of macro- and micro- minerals than that of the other two peas. The electron microscopic structure of beach pea hull crude fibre showed a very close and compact structure than green pea and field pea hull crude fibre structure. Lowering the hardness of beach pea seeds with mechanical or chemical treatments will give more scope for their utilization in the human nutrition.

Fatty acid and elemental composition of mature seeds of beach pea [Lathyrus maritimus (L.) Bigel.]

This study was conducted to determine the fatty acid composition of phospholipids (PL), monoglycerides (MG), diglycerides (DG), free fatty acids (FFA) and triglycerides (TG) of mature beach pea seeds and the elemental composition of mature beach pea seed coats and embryos. In beach pea seeds, PL were dominated by C18:2 and C16:0 and MG contained high quantities of C18:2, C16:0 and C18:1. Diglycerides showed high C18:0, C16:0 and C18:2. Free fatty acids were dominated by C18:2, C16:0, C18:1 and C18:0, and TG were dominated by C18:1, C18:0 and C16:0. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis revealed K as the most abundant element in whole seed, seed coat and embryo. However, embryos showed significantly higher relative weight percentage of K than whole seeds and seed coats. Whole seeds and embryos contained higher P, S and Cl relative weight percentages than seed coats. Seed coats contained higher Ca, Na a nd Mg relative weight percentages than embryos. Aluminium, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn distribution between seed coat and embryo was uniform. Key words: Beach pea, element, fatty acid, Lathyrus maritimus L., lipid, seed

Seasonal changes in protein, amino acid and elemental composition of perennial nodules of beach pea

Changes in proteins, amino acids and elements were studied in the perennial nodules of beach pea during winter, summer and fall. Accumulation of total protein content in the nodules increased from mid-summer to early winter and then decreased. Among the total amino acids studied, arginine, cystathionine, ethanolamine, histidine, hydroxyproline, ornithine and proline were found to increase in winter nodules. γ-aminobutyric acid was found to be significantly higher in fall and summer, whereas sarcosine was higher in summer and winter. Large amounts of K followed by Ca were found in almost all nodule tissues. Phosphorus, A l, Si and Cu showed significant variation among different nodule tissues within winter and summer. In the nodular tissue, significantly larger amounts of Na, K and Mg were found in the winter and S in the summer. In both winter and summer, no significant difference could be observed in the distribution of Cl, Mo, Ca, Mn, Fe and Zn among nodule tissues. Irrespective of nodule tissues, the complete nodule showed the following seasonal changes: high K, Ca and Zn in winter; high Cl and Al in summer; high S and Si in fall; high Mn in both winter and summer; high Cu in both winter and fall; high Na, Mg and Fe in both summer and fall; no significant changes in the amounts of P and Mo. Key words: Beach pea, Lathyrus maritimus L., protein, amino acid, element, cold stress

The pattern of seed development and maturation in beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus)

The developmental patterns of seed, seed coat, and hardseededness were studied in naturally growing crop plants of beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus (L.) Bigel.) at six reproductive growth stages (S1–S6). Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) seeds were used for comparison in some experiments. The accumulation of fresh and dry weight in pod shell and seed of beach pea and pod shell of grass pea followed an almost sigmoidal pattern. However, grass pea seed showed a linear pattern of weight accumulation. During maturation, moisture content of pod shells and seeds decreased because of dehydration. Beach pea seeds were able to germinate precociously at S4. Seeds collected between S1 and S3 failed to germinate because of immaturity, whereas the development of hard seed coats prevented germination in seeds gathered at S5 and S6. An imbibition test revealed that hardseededness completely prevented water absorption of S5 and S6 seeds even after 24 days of soaking. In grass pea, precocious seed germination was observed at S3. However, speed of germination, germination percentage, seedling length and dry weight increased as seeds approached maturity. Lipid and protein accumulation in seeds of both species increased progressively with maturity and showed a positive correlation with seed weight accumulation. In both beach pea and grass pea seeds, S6 was identified as a physiological maturity stage.Key words: beach pea, grass pea, hard seed, imbibition, Lathyrus, seed coat, seed development, water impermeability.