Common Vetch: a drought tolerant, high protein neglected leguminous crop with potential as a sustainable food source

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.02.11.943324
• Publication Date: 2020-02-13T06:45:10Z
• Authors: Vy Nguyen; Samuel Riley; Stuart Nagel; Ian Fisk; Iain R. Searle
• Keywords: Drought Tolerance; Lotus japonicus

Abstract Global demand for protein is predicted to increase by 50% 2050. To meet the increasing whilst ensuring sustainability, sources that generate low-greenhouse gas emissions are required and protein-rich legume seeds have potential make a significant contribution. Legumes like common vetch ( Vicia sativa ) grow in marginal cropping zones drought tolerant resilient changeable annual weather patterns, will be high as climate changes. In vetch, inability eliminate γ-glutamyl-β-cyano-alanine (GBCA) toxin present seed has hindered its utility human animal food many decades, leaving this highly species an “orphan” legume. However, availability of genome transcriptome data together with application CRISPR-Cas editing technologies lay foundations GBCA constraint. near future, we anticipate zero-toxin variety become contributor global demand.