Earlier studies [1, 2] have demonstrated that a number of isoflavonoid (pterocarpan) phytoalexins [3] accumulate in excised, fungus-inoculated leaflets of species belonging to the genus Lathyrus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae; tribe Vicieae). Apart from pisatin (3-methoxy-6a-hydroxy-8,9-methylenedioxypterocarpan, 1), the most commonly en­ countered Lathyrus phytoalexin, small quantities of three o...

20 Lathyrus cicera is a grain legume that is well adapted to grow in low rainfall regions. 21 However, it contains a neurotoxin, 3-(-N-oxylyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), 22 which can cause paralysis of the lower limbs, known as “lathyrism”. An experiment was 23 conducted to measure the nutrient content and ileal digestible amino acid content of a recently 24 released low ODAP lathyrus ...

Leguminosae, Lathyrus sativus, Phytoalexin, 6a-Hydroxypterocarpan, Pisatin Lathyrus sativus was investigated for the nature of its phytoalexin response with the result that leaflets, im­ mature pods, and seeds were induced to produce 6a-hydroxy-3-methoxy-8,9-methylenedioxypterocarpan (pisatin). Evidence is presented for the metabolism of pisatin, by the wound pathogen Botrytis cinerea, to a phe...

It is nearly four decades since the discovery of ODAP as the major neurotoxic constituent of Lathyrus sativus seeds. However, several basic questions relating to neurolathyrism still remain unanswered. We are unable to convince several governments to ban the cultivation of the pulse and to take on a more serious approach to introducing the low toxin varieties. Meanwhile, farmers continue to gro...

Point mutations result from errors made during DNA replication or repair, so they are usually expected to be homogeneous across all regions of a genome. However, we have found a region of chloroplast DNA in plants related to sweetpea (Lathyrus) whose local point mutation rate is at least 20 times higher than elsewhere in the same molecule. There are very few precedents for such heterogeneity in...

BACKGROUND Caley Pea (Lathyrus hirsutus) is potentially toxic to horses, but large case series are not reported. OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical signs of horses intoxicated with Lathyrus hirsutus and speculate on the neuroanatomical lesion localization and pathogenesis based upon the observed clinical signs. ANIMALS Twenty-two of 25 horses ranging in age from 6 to 34 months were affecte...

Introduction In Tunisia the genus Lathyrus is represented by 15 native species , distributed essentially in marginal environments in the north of the country. Many of them are of considerable agronomic interest as forage (L. ochrus and L. articulatus) and as human food (L. cicera and L. sativus). These species are under utilised and in the past little effort has been made to expand the selectio...

background: more than 60 species of the genus lathyrus are distributed in southwest asia. it is the second largest genus of the tribe fabeae, after vicia, in the region (and in iran with 23 species). in the regional flora (flora of turkey, florairanicaand flora of iran), the genus has been divided into 9-10 sections. here we analyzed the phylogeny of lathyrus and its relationship with pisum bas...

A wild relative of the garden pea, formerly called Pisum sativum L., but now included in genus Lathyrus, is illustrated, and its relationship to cultivated peas discussed. Recent studies DNA Lathyrus have led change name for this common species.