Ecogeographic, genetic and taxonomic studies of the genus Lathyrus L.

Abstract

Lathyrus species are well placed to meet the increasing global demand for food and feed, at the time of climate change, provided that the problem of the neurotoxins is solved. Conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of Lathyrus is of significant importance to allow the regain of interest in Lathyrus species in world. A comprehensive global database of Lathyrus species originating from the Mediterranean Basin, Caucasus, Central and West Asia is developed using accessions in major genebanks and information from eight herbaria in Europe. This information allowed to determine gaps in ex situ collections, mainly for wild relatives of cultivated species, and to identify appropriate sites for in situ conservation, mainly in the Fertile Crescent region. Core subsets were identified and the Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy (FIGS) was used to derive a subset for heat and drought tolerance. This study used morphological characters and AFLP markers to better understand the taxonomic classification of different Lathyrus sections and species and to gain insights on the phylogenetic relationships among them. A Field Guide for Lathyrus L. species of the Mediterranean Basin and Caucasus, Central and West Asia is produced, to ease their identification by non-professional taxonomists.