The concentration of vicine and convicine in Vicia faba and some related species and their distribution within mature seeds

Mature seeds from a range of species from the Vicieae tribe were analysed for vicine and convicine content. Quantifiable amounts of vicine were found in all the Vicia species analysed but neither glucopyranoside was detected in Pisum or Lathyrus. The concentrations of both vicine and convicine were similar for both Vicia faba and V bithynica but in all the other Vicia species glucopyranoside concentrations were significantly lower. Seeds from three faba bean lines and one each from V narbonensis and V bithynica were dissected into their constituent seed parts and these parts analysed. Only trace quantities were found in the seed coat but concentrations of vicine ranging from 39 g kg^?1 to 81 g kg^?1 were detected in the radicle samples. The implications of these results in relation to the role of these compounds in the plant are discussed.