Effect of ripening stage on thiamin and riboflavin levels in lupin, pea and faba bean seeds

 Seeds of yellow pea lupin (Lupinus luteus L., cv. Juno), pea (Pisum sativum L., cv. Ergo) and faba bean (Vicia faba sp. minor Harz., cv. Tibo) were harvested at different stages of seed maturity. Changes in thiamin and riboflavin levels during growth and maturation were studied. The results obtained showed that thiamin and riboflavin were found in high abundance early in the development of lupins and peas, but that their content decreased during maturation. The thiamin content of faba bean seeds increased from 33 to 47 days after flowering (DAF), then a decrease was observed until 61 DAF; however, no significant differences between these levels in faba bean seeds harvested from 61 to 89 DAF were found. The riboflavin content of faba beans increased after 54 DAF, and no significant changes were observed between then and 89 DAF. The thiamin and riboflavin contents in lupin, pea and faba bean seeds during development were fitted to modelling curves in order to predict the vitamin content at different stages of maturity. Received: 17 July 1997