Genotypic and Environmental Impacts on Vicine and Convicine Concentrations in Faba Beans

Pankaj Maharjan (), Aaron C. Elkins, Jason Brand, Samuel C. Catt, Simone J. Rochfort and Joe F. Panozzo
Additional contact information
Pankaj Maharjan: Agriculture Victoria Research, Grain Innovation Park, 110 Natimuk Road, Horsham, VIC 3400, Australia
Aaron C. Elkins: Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Jason Brand: Agriculture Victoria Research, Grain Innovation Park, 110 Natimuk Road, Horsham, VIC 3400, Australia
Samuel C. Catt: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
Simone J. Rochfort: Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Joe F. Panozzo: School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: High concentrations of vicine and convicine (v-c) in faba beans can trigger favism in susceptible humans, posing a significant barrier to the broader adoption of faba beans as a food source. While plant breeding and various post-harvest processing methods have been adopted to reduce v-c levels, there is limited understanding of how agronomic practices may assist in reducing v-c levels. This study investigated the effect of sowing time (TOS), soil type, and genotype on v-c levels in faba beans. Twelve faba bean genotypes were evaluated across multiple field sites by applying two sowing times and two diverse soil types. The v-c content was quantified using established chromatographic techniques. Genotypes were identified as the most major factor affecting v-c levels, with significant variation observed in mean vicine and convicine contents. Sowing time also had a significant impact ( p < 0.01), with lower v-c levels observed in TOS 1 compared to TOS 2. This reduction may be due to a longer plant development period and extended seed desiccation in TOS 1. Soil conditions, likely linked to nutritional factors, significantly influenced vicine concentrations ( p < 0.05) but did not influence convicine levels ( p > 0.05). These findings highlight the importance of agronomy practices, such as optimal sowing time, soil nutrition, and moisture management, in minimizing v-c levels; the most effective strategy remains the development of low v-c genotypes combined with farming practices that naturally suppress v-c accumulation.

Keywords: abiotic mediated; faba bean; vicine and convicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1567/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1567/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:15:p:1567-:d:1706949

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().