New, Low-Neurotoxin Grass Pea Variety Breaks the Fear of Paralysis in Ethiopia

A new variety of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) dubbed 'Wasie' was recently released by the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO). The new variety was derived from grass pea germplasm that was supplied to Ethiopia by ICARDA in 1999/2000.

"The new variety has broken the fear of paralysis among Ethiopians," commented Ali Abd El-Moneim, a senior forage breeder at ICARDA.

Grass pea is a popular food and feed crop in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Since it is resistant to drought, water-logging (floods) and moderate salinity, and can grow with little external input, it is often the only food source for poor people in periods of drought. Although its seeds are tasty and rich in protein, consumption of grass pea as the predominant dietary component for prolonged periods can cause neurolathyrism, an irreversible paralysis of the lower limbs due to the presence of neurotoxins in the seeds.

Left: ICARDA and Ethiopian researchers discuss the benefits of growing low-neuro-toxin grass pea varieties with Ethiopian farmers. Right: 'Wasie' growing in a field in Ethiopia

'Wasie' yields 1.67 tons per hectare without any inputs, is moderately resistant to powdery mildew disease, and matures earlier than local varieties. The variety's low neurotoxin content (0.08%), compared with 0.4% in the local comparator, will help reduce the number of lathyrism cases in Ethiopia where grass pea area has increased from 50, 000 hectares to 110,000 hectares in recent years. The variety is recommended for cultivation in mid- to high-altitude areas (1700-2800 meters above sea level).