Field performance of natural narrow-leafed lupin from the northwestern Spain

Abstract

Narrow-leafed lupin or lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is one of the three species of the genus Lupinus that grows naturally in Galicia (northwestern Spain). In this region, with more than one million of cattle heads, almost 20% of Spanish total, there is no cultivation of any protein legume for feed. Lupins are widely used as a source of protein and energy in livestock feed and would contribute to the supply of vegetable protein at low cost. A 2-year study of natural narrow-leafed lupin germplasm was conducted under winter Mediterranean conditions in northwestern Spain. Fifty-nine wild populations and two cultivars developed in Poland were evaluated for major morphological, phenological, and agronomical characteristics. The objectives were to assess the agronomic potential of this germplasm for the future production and breeding, and to know the relationships among populations studied. Lupin populations showed significant differences for most of the traits studied. Genotype × environment interaction was significant for plant height, green and dry mass, pod length, seeds per pod, seed length and width, and water permeability of seed coat, indicating that some genotypes were better fitted to a specific environment than others. Three narrow-leafed lupin populations (LUP-0098, LUP-0138 and LUP-0200) were identified with suitable agronomical characteristics for their possible future cultivation in the region and breeding purposes. The accession LUP-0138 presented the best behaviour for seed production. These results open the way for the winter narrow-leafed lupin to become a promising crop in the future for the northwestern Spain.