50 RESEARCH REPORTS

PNL Volume 13

1981

AMINO ACID CONTENT IN THE PROTEIN OF SEEDS OF DIFFERENT TAXONS OF PEAS

Stencel, M., and W. Swiecicki, Sr.

Plant Experiment Station, Wiatrowo, Poland

Because different workers have obtained different estimates (1,2,4,5)

of amino acid content in pea protein, we undertook in 1976-77 to investigate

the content of lysine, methionine, and cystine in 50 populations, lines, and

cultivars of peas belonging to different taxons.

Amino acid content in hydrolysates of pea-flour was estimated in two

repetitions by the Beckman automatic analyzer, "Multichrom B". Acid hydrolysis

of protein (6) was preceded by the oxidation of the flour (3). The results

of methionine and cystine were lower than the data given in the references.

This paper presents only the highlights of a large body of data that were

collected. The average results were compiled separately for wild and cultivated

peas (Tables 1 and 2). In the group of cultivated peas the classification

as to convarieties is related to use roughly as follows: medullare (garden

peas), sativum (field peas for seeds), speciosum (field peas for green forage).

PNL Volume 13 1981

RESEARCH REPORTS

Among the wild peas, populations of P. syriacum (Table 1) had the highest

lysine content. Little variation was noted, however, with respect to the

content of the sulfur containing amino acids, methionine and cystine. In

cultivated peas (Table 2), some variation in lysine content was evident.

However, the majority of fodder, colored flower, varieties had a slightly

higher total content of sulfur containing amino acids than the field and

garden, white-flowered peas. The exception was the variety Stral, obtained

by mutagenesis. Overall, the tables show that, except for P. syriacum, the

rest of the wild species and subspecies had a lower lysine content in the

protein of seeds than cultivated peas. Moreover, except for the Turkish

population, Karsyiaka, they also had less methionine and cystine. Thus the

most productive varieties, belonging to the groups episcopii, gratiosum,

and superfluens, had the highest amino acid content (7).

We plan also to analyze the collection of natural and induced mutations

gathered in Plant Experiment Station Wiatrowo.

1. Becker, M., K. Nehring. 1965. P. Parey Verlag, Berlin.

2. Chomyszyn, M., L. Furman, A. Wierny, F. Witczak. 1970. PWRiL, Warszawa.

3. Hesse, J., G. John, R. Fahnenstick. 1971. Zeitschr. fur Tierphysiology,

Tierernahr. u. Futtermit. B. 28, H. 3.

4. 0. Kellner, M. Becker. 1971. P. Parey Verlag, Berlin.

5. Nehring, K., M. Beyer, B. Hoffmann. 1972. Deutsche Landwirtschaftsverla

Berlin.

6. Spackmann, D. H., W. H. Stein, S. Moore. 1958. Anal. Chem. 30:190.

7. Swiecicki, W., Sr. 1980. PNL 12:66.