Lathyrus sativus is popular among farmers due to its ease of cultivation and high climatic adaptability. However, full potential of this crop has not been realized due to the presence of a toxin, beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid (CHAP) which causes a paralytic disorder known as neurolathyrism in humans. Conventional breeding and selection methods have failed to produce varieties free of the neurotoxin. Research utilizing recombinant DNA technology and tissue culture has been initiated in the recent years to produce Lathyrus sativus plants free of neurotoxin. The progress in this area of research includes isolation and characterization of ODAP-degrading gene from pure cultures of bacteria, It offers the scope for introducing this gene into L. sativus by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, As part of the second approach, oxalyl-CoA (coenzyme A) synthetase, which is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of ODAP, has been purified and monoclonal antibodies raised against it. This can be used to construct antisense gene of this enzyme for introducing into L. sativus. Somaclones having very low toxin contents have also been developed, All these results show the potential of producing neurotoxin-free L. sativus plants in the near future.
YADAV, VK; MEHTA, SL
LATHYRUS-SATIVUS - A FUTURE PULSE CROP FREE OF NEUROTOXIN
Current Science