[Genetic improvement in Vicia faba and favism. I. Distribution and levels of presumably hemolytic metabolites].

Covicine + vicine, L-DOPA-glucoside + L-DOPA and ascorbic acid were determined in different lines of Vicia faba beans throughout the biological cycle of the plant. As the seed matures the levels of convicine + vicine as well as of ascorbic acid decrease with seed maturation in all the lines examined. L-DOPA, which is lacking in cotyledons but present in the tegument, also decrease and is nearly undectable in some lines with white flowers.