Nutritional characteristics of seed protein in 16 Vicia species belonging to subgenus Vicilla

Abstract

The amino acid compositions of the seeds from 16 Viciaspecies from all continents, including the antinutritional non proteinogenic free amino acid canavanine, have been determined in order to evaluate their potential for human nutrition and as animal feed. These species belong to subgenus Cracca, sections Cassubicae, Vicilla, Panduratae, and Cracca. Nutritional parameters were calculated based on amino acid composition. Protein contents ranged from 21.9 % in V. dumetorumto 31.2 % in V. cassubicaand V. orobus. The content in lysine was above FAO/WHO/UNU recommendations in all seeds, although all seeds were also deficient in sulphur amino acids and tryptophan. Species belonging to sections Cassubicaehave the lowest contents in canavanine (0.0 to 0.7 %), while the highest canavanine contents were found in section Cracca(0.26 to 10.6 %).The highest protein efficiency ratios were observed in V. costataand V. sylvatica, and the highest biological value was found in V. orobus. Thus, V. costataand V. orobuswould be the best sources of good qualityprotein according to nutritional parameters, although V. cassubicaand V. orobuswould also be good sources of protein as their protein contents are higher than 30 % and their content in canavanine is below 1 %. Content in canavanine was higher in plants that grow in warmer climates. Viciashave in general good agronomic properties, and some of them have been cultivated in the past, which should facilitate their introduction or recovery as crops.