Is latirism something of the past?

1994/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Abeltzaintza

Aixkola (Lathyrus sativus) is a kind of food for cattle. In many parts of the world, such as India, Pakistan or Ethiopia, people eat. Aixkola has many proteins and also suffers very well droughts. It is therefore an optional food in these States.

However, eating a lot of aixkol produces latirism from a toxin. Latirism affects the part of the brain that controls leg movement, causing spinal and nerve problems.

Researchers from the Haidarabad Food Institute (India) have obtained varieties of aixkola with low amounts of toxins. The new varieties have white flowers, with the old yellow ones. This will help unliterate farmers differentiate from each other.

It is now being tested on land with different weather conditions.