Abstract Grass pea ( Lathyrus sativus L.) is a protein-rich legume widely cultivated in drought-prone areas of Asia and Africa. Despite its resilience and nutritional value, Lathyrus suffers from limited genetic variability and the persistent problem of β-ODAP toxicity, which restricts consumption and warrants focused breeding initiatives. Developing high-yielding, low-ODAP varieties is critical for food safety and agricultural productivity. The present study employed gamma irradiation (250, 300, 350 Gy) to induce mutagenesis in seeds of cultivar NLK-73. Through successive generational selection (up to M₄), 29 promising mutants were evaluated in a randomized block design. Phenotypic and yield attributes were measured, along with ODAP quantification using spectrophotometry. Data analysis included ANOVA, estimation of genetic parameters, heritability, and genetic advance. Significant genetic variability was observed among M₄ mutants for all evaluated traits. The analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences ( p 60%) and substantial genetic advance were found for key traits such as branches and pods per plant, suggesting additive genetic action. Ten mutants (notably NLM-12, NLM-20, NLM-23) surpassed checks in seed yield (23–24.5 g/plant vs. 13.9 g/plant) with proportionately lower ODAP content, marking them as candidates for breeding programs and further evaluation. Gamma ray mutagenesis effectively broadened variability in Lathyrus sativus , enabling selection of superior M₄ mutants with enhanced yield and reduced ODAP content. The results suggest the feasibility of developing safer, high-yielding grass pea cultivars, warranting further validation. Adoption of mutation breeding should continue for rapid improvement of grass pea, focusing on reducing β-ODAP to trace levels while maximizing germplasm diversity and yield. Multi-location field trials are recommended to confirm stability of desirable traits. Molecular characterization and marker-assisted selection to expedite breeding for low-ODAP, high-protein lines is warranted. Exploration of alternative mutagens and advanced genomic tools will facilitate precise genetic improvement.
Madke et al. (Sat,) studied this question.