Evaluating Nutritional and Antinutritional Traits in Faba Beans for Sustainable Food Systems.

Introduction: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a protein-rich and stress-tolerant legume gaining prominence in North America as a sustainable source of plant-based protein. Its cultivation addresses the growing demand for eco-friendly diets and reduced food production footprints. However, anti-nutritional factors such as vicine and convicine limit the utility of certain varieties. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional and anti-nutritional components in 22 faba bean genotypes to support current breeding efforts for Mid-Atlantic U.S. production.

Methods: Fifteen genotypes from the USDA-ARS mini-core (492 accessions), five commercially purchased cultivars (Felix, Vroma, Microgreen, Sprouting), and two Crop Development Centre cultivars (Snowdrop, CDC 219-16) were evaluated. Vicine and convicine were quantified using HPLC-DAD. Total nitrogen was measured using the Dumas method and converted to protein (N×6.25). Seed length, breadth, and width were measured with a Vernier caliper. All measurements were performed on a dry-weight basis in triplicate. Correlations among traits were visualized with a heatmap, and PCA with hierarchical clustering identified factors driving genotype segregation. Analyses were conducted in RStudio.

Results: The protein content ranged from 19 to 33%. Vicine and convicine were in the ranges of 4.29–15.73 mg/g and 1.76–11.00 mg/g, respectively. ANOVA showed significant genotype effects (p < 0.05) for protein, vicine, convicine, and seed dimensions. Vicine correlated negatively with length (−0.6117), breadth (−0.6044), and width (−0.6852), and positively correlated with protein (0.3069). Convicine showed similar but weaker correlations. PCA and clustering identified seed dimensions, vicine, convicine, and protein as key contributors to genotype differentiation.

Significance: This study identifies PI 469151, Vroma, and PI 469123 as optimal genotypes, combining high protein content with acceptable vicine and convicine levels. Felix, Microgreen seeds, and PI 655348 are secondary options, offering higher protein but elevated anti-nutritional factors. These findings support breeding efforts promoting faba beans as nutrient-rich, sustainable protein sources for global food security.