Homoarginine, ß-ODAP, and asparagine contents of grass pea landraces cultivated in Turkey.

The seeds of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), a drought tolerant crop, were analysed for quantitative determination of the free amino acids ß-N-oxalyl-l-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (ß-ODAP), homoarginine and asparagine by a simple and fast capillary electrophoretic method. In boric acid (80mM, pH 8.0) running buffer system, not only were α and ß-ODAP successfully separated, but also an efficient sample stacking was achieved during hydrodynamic sample introduction. The validated method was used for quantification of ß-ODAP, homoarginine and asparagine in seed extracts of 52 Lathyrus local landraces from various regions of Turkey and one released cultivar. The concentration ranges of amino acids were found as 0.21-1.27% (w/w) for homoarginine, 0.10-0.87% (w/w) for ß-ODAP and 0.006-0.47% (w/w) for asparagine. A positive correlation between homoarginine and ß-ODAP quantities in seeds of 53 Lathyrus local landraces was shown to exist (r(2)=0.649).

Biodiversity in morphological properties and nutritional values of forage grass species.

This study was conducted under humid and warm climatic conditions in 19 Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit campus area (1300 ha) during March and July in 2004. The study aimed to evaluate the forage grass species, which have been protected for over 30 years, and to observe the biological diversity by determining their morphological characters and forage qualities. Some morphological characters and chemical properties of 20 grass species were examined. Statistically significant differences were determined regarding all morphological characters and chemical properties within species and individual species. In examined grass species, number of tiller per plant and main stem length ranged from 5.5 to 40.5 and 39.38 to 96.18 cm, respectively. Root crown diameter, dry matter of root, dry forage weight changed between 6.24 and 21.60 mm, 0.27 and 20.33 g plant(-1), 0.80 and 46.76 g plant(-1), respectively. Protein content of the samples varied from 4.37 to 9.42%. Trace elements content of the samples such as Ca (0.08-0.79%), Mg (0.06-0.17%) and K (0.76-3.03%) were also determined. Potassium contents of dry grass forages were excessively high, however their phosphor contents were generally insufficient, calcium and magnesium contents were fairly insufficient and K/Ca+Mg ratios were over the critic value (2.20) except for two species. In general, Fe, Zn and Mn in dry grass forage samples were found adequate.