TOTAL PHENOLICS AND CONDENSED TANNINS IN-FIELD PEA (PISUM-SATIVUM L.)AND GRASS PEA (LATHYRUS-SATIVUS L.)

Seed samples of seventeen field pea cultivars grown at five locations, and nine grass pea Lines grown at two locations, in western Canada du ring 1993 and 1994 were analysed for total phenolics and condensed tan nins. Each location in each year was considered as one environment. To tal phenolics in field pea differed significantly among cultivars, ran ging from 162 mg/kg DM (dry matter) (CE, catechin equivalents) for AC Tamer to 325 mg/kg DM (CE) for Richmond. Field pea had barely detectab le levels of condensed tannins. Total phenolics in grass pea ranged fr om 868 mg/kg DM (CE) for L880388 to 2059 mg/kg DM (CE) for LS89110. Co ndensed tannins in grass pea ranged from 0.89 g/kg DM (CE) for L880388 to 5.18 g/kg DM (CE) for LS89125. Cultivar had a larger relative cont ribution to total phenolic levels in field pea and to total phenolic a nd condensed tannin levels in grass pea than environment. Total phenol ic and condensed tannin levels were not correlated with seed yield and seed protein content in field pea or grass pea. Levels of total pheno lics and condensed tannins were positively correlated in grass pea. Gr ass pea seeds with darker seed coat colour contained higher levels of condensed tannins.