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Abstract
Cool season food legumes such as pea, lentil, chickpea, faba bean, grasspea and lupin have been consumed in animal and human diets since domestication and have been cultivated for over 9000 years. Due to their nutritional value they continue to make up a substantial portion of diets in developing countries worldwide. Seeds are composed of protein, starch, fiber, lipids, vitamins and minerals as well as several antinutritional compounds. Protein and starch combined account for 50-75% of seed mass. Similar amounts of protein and starch are present in each species and range from 15-40% and 35-53%, respectively. Fiber accounts for 1-22% of the seed mass. Chickpea is quite variable for fiber content, but faba bean, grasspea and lupin all contain approximately 15% fiber while pea and lentil have substantially lower levels, 4-8%. Protein composition is deficient in the sulfur amino acids, methionine and cysteine, but contains adequate levels of lysine making the legumes an excellent dietary complement to cereals. As a result these crops have been produced and consumed together for centuries. Despite the high nutritional value of these crops, they contain several antinutritional factors (ANF) such as phytic acid, protease inhibitors, heamagglutinins, tannins, alkaloids, raffinose oligosaccharides and antigenicity factors at relatively low levels. These compounds serve important roles in pest resistance or plant survival, but reduce digestibility and palatability when consumed. Genetic analysis of the antinutritional factors has shown that many of the ANFs are controlled by single genes and has allowed geneticists to reduce accumulation of the ANFs, thereby improving nutritional value. Legumes will continue to serve as the primary source of protein in areas of the world where meat is not readily available. Continued research toward a better understanding of the genetic control of legume quality will give geneticists the opportunity to improve the dietary value of these crops.