title: Agronomical factors influencing the legumin/vicilin ratio in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many research studies have investigated the impact of agronomical factors on the protein content of pea (Pisum sativum). This study aimed to establish if a correlation exists between protein content and legumin/vicilin (L/V) ratio in pea seeds and to identify agronomical factors that have an impact on this ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The L/V ratio was positively correlated with protein content (r = 0.58, P ≤ 0.01), but no linear regression was applicable (adjusted R(2) = 0.31). Both variety and cultivation year had a highly significant effect on the ratio (P < 0.001). The interaction between these two factors was also highly significant (P < 0.001), some varieties being less sensitive to climatic conditions than others. Cultivation location had a highly significant effect (P < 0.01). There was no interaction between variety and location. Seeding density had a highly significant effect on the ratio (P < 0.01), with a saturation effect above 60 seeds m(-2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies should establish if a linear regression model can be applied to pea varieties independently. Varieties with a stable L/V ratio can prove to be useful in the food industry. Other agronomical factors (soil type and seeding density) should be considered for the production of pea seeds with a specific L/V ratio.
authors.affiliation: Valorisation des Bioressources--Laboratoire de Science des Aliments et Formulation, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium. cecile.mertens@doct.ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Lydie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dehon
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe-Cartrysse
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blecker
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002980:Climate; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D000097793:Legumins
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D000097793:Legumins; C015575:vicilin protein, plant