Il recupero di un prestigioso ecotipo calabrese: la lenticchia di Mormanno

The Lenticchia di Mormanno belongs to the microsperma morphotype, namely with small seed as all cold area agroecotypes of the botanical species Lens culinaris Medik. = L. esculenta Moench. The Lenticchia di Mormanno, cited in agronomic texts and included among the most important small seeded Italian lentils, was considered disappeared. Fortunately, elderly farmers following the local crop cultivation tradition existing in Mormanno (located in the Pollino National Park, Province of Cosenza, Southern Italy) have continued to grow it on very small fields. Seeds have regular shape with 3.5-4.0 mm mean diameter, and weight 37 g/1000 seeds. Based on the coat color, ranging from pink to green or light brown with or without pattern, five biotypes can be identified. The plant of the Lenticchia di Mormanno is small, 25-40 cm high, susceptible to lodging, and generally producing two seeds for pod. Data show that the Lenticchia di Mormanno has protein and ash contents lower than those reported for other Italian small seeded lentils. Conversely, any change in the cooking features has been found. Biochemical (seed storage protein) and molecular (SSR) markers showed that the pink-coat biotype is genetically different from the remaining four types, having green or light brown coat with or without pattern.