Mutagenesis as a tool for improvement of traits in grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Introduction Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is produced as major crop in Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan, and to a lesser extent in many countries of Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, as well as in South America. It is extensively cultivated and naturalised in the Middle East countries of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon and in Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Libya in northern Africa . In Europe grasspea was cultivated in the Balkans by around 8000 BC (4) . Foods prepared from the seeds have been popular in Europe and are still being used locally in Spain, France, Germany and Bulgaria.