Improvement of yellow and narrow leaf lupins for the ... - Lupins.org

Improvement of yellow and narrow
leaf lupins for the United Kingdom
Michael Abberton and Tony Mizen
Plant Breeding and Genetics Programme

The Lupins in Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) project is sponsored by Defra
through the Sustainable Arable LINK Programme in association with

Key Drivers
• Home grown protein
• Cost of N fertiliser
• Break crop options
• Environmental impacts

Lupin Development
MIXED FARMING SYSTEM
Agronomy
Livestock
N&P&S Scavenging
N&P&S Recycling
Rotational Design
Economics
N&P&S Emissions
Crop attractive to
compounders and
economic to grow
FEED SYSTEMS
Feed intake/palatability
Feed conversion
N&P&S emissions
ARABLE CASH CROP
Crop Design
Ca tolerance
Time to maturity
Anti-nutritional
Oil content
Protein composition
Yield
Design
modification
Agronomy
Optimised Mixed
Systems
Optimised Ration
Optimised Crop
Design for
ARABLE
Lupins in sustainable agriculture (L I S A)

L. angustifolius
c.v. ‘Prima’
(determinate)
L. angustifolius
c.v. ‘Bora’ (Semideterminate)
L. luteus
c.v. ‘Wodjil’
(Semi-determinate)

Overcoming agronomic constraints
• Yield
• Yield stability
• Earlier maturity
• Improved tolerance of alkaline soils

Spaced plants important initially to show up genotypic
variation in the absence of the effect of competition

FLOWERING DATE
Up to 2 weeks difference in flowering in the spike

purple bract / purple
flower
Green bract-brown tip / white
flower

HEIGHT / BRANCHING
Taller and shorter plants identified

OTHER POTENTIAL PHENOTYPES OF INTEREST
INCLUDED…
Bushy/leafy type
Unusual flower / bract colour
V. Late
development /
aborted pods

All spaced plants harvested individually
• Pods/spike, pods/branches
• Seed yield/spike
• Seed yield/branches
• Plant dry weight
• Pod dry weight

Genotypes Variation as spaced plants
2004 Sp.Plt L.angustifolius (Det.) number of branches
L.angustifolius
(determinate)
2004 S.Plt L.angustifolius (Det.) - Plant Ht (cm)
n. branch
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
plt no:
Plant Ht (cm)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Plt code
25
2004 Spaced Plants - L.angustifolius (indet.) n. branches
L.angustifolius
(indeterminate)
120
2004 Sp.Plt - L.angustifolius (indet.) Plant Ht (cm)
20
100
Number of branches
15
10
5
Plant Ht (cm)
80
60
40
20
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Plant code
Plant code
Number of branches
Plant Height (cm)

Spaced Plants 2004
Branching variation in L.angustifolius
14
Spaced Plants were assessed for several
agronomic traits. Phenotypic variation was
recorded in each population and between
individual and plot grown plants (example
graphs....)
mean n. branches
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Prima
n.branch
Prima
n.branch+pod
Bora
n.branch
Population Variation: Height
Bora
n.branch+pod
Sp.Plt
Plot
70
60
Mean Height (cm)
50
40
30
20
SpPlt
Plot
10
0
Prima Bora Wodjil Prima Bora Wodjil
Variety

Variation measured in selected genotypes grown as individual drills in field

Potential for crop improvement
– genotype variation
Drills (2005):
Significant differences were
observed between genotypes
after only a single cycle of
selection.
Height to
tip spike
(cm)
Height to
top plant
(cm)
Fresh
weight
straw (cm)
Dry
weight
straw
% Dry
matter
straw
L.ang. Mean 64.27 177.3 24.92 47.51
(Det.) s.e.d. 3.3 32 10.5 5.8
*** *** n/s **
L.ang. Mean 69.56 77.83 76.6 31.05 42.75
(Indet.) s.e.d. 4.3 4.3 21.2 7.5 5.2
*** *** *** *** ***
L.luteus Mean 63.04 75.78 108.9 38.07 36.88
s.e.d. 3.1 3.5 20.9 5.7 15.1
*** *** *** *** n/s
Grain yield
per plant
(adjusted to
15% m.c.)
% Dry
matter
seed
% moisture
seed
T.G.W.
(adjusted to
15% m.c.)
L.ang. Mean 21.13 79.46 20.54 164.21
(Det.) s.e.d. 8.8 1.5 1.5 11.4
n/s *** *** ***
L.ang. Mean 18.82 72.24 27.76 134.7
(Indet.) s.e.d. 5.2 2.2 2.2 13.1
*** *** *** ***
L.luteus Mean 20.32 72.86 27.14 142.98
s.e.d. 2.9 1.28 1.28 7.5
*** n/s n/s n/s

Improvement in selected genotypes of L. angustifolius and L. luteus
Yield /
Plant (g)
Yield /
Plant (g)
Plant
Biomass
(g)
Plant
Biomass
(g)
Plant
Height
(cm)
Plant
Height
(cm)
TGW
Seed (g)
TGW
Seed (g)
Control Selection Control Selection Control Selection Control Selection
L.angustifolius
(determinate)
13.2 18.4 9.9 18.1 54 59 141.4 148.6
s.d. 2.32 3.03 4.17 7.63
L.angustifolius
(indeterminate)
11.5 20.1 12.6 26 58 68 109.7 156.5
s.d. 3.21 6.4 6.75 18.12
L.luteus (semideterminate)
10.7 13.9 16.6 25.7 57 69 132.4 163.9
s.d. 1.86 3.05 6.3 17.27
Legend:
The table refers to 2006 data from field drills. Comparison of means of control and improved genotype
selections in L. angustifolius (c.v.’s Prima (determinate) and Bora (indeterminate)) and L. luteus (cv. Wodjil).
Control = unselected commercial variety, Selections = Prima (P 126/251, P 101, P 263, P XXV/229
respectively), Bora (B XI/190, B XIX/190, B 267/198, B 248/192 respectively) and Wodjil (W 36/366, W XI, W
XI/321, W XI respectively). Yield = mean threshed grain weight per plant (adjusted to standard 15% moisture
content), Biomass = mean standardised dry weight of plant at harvest, Height = mean height of plants in cm
measured to tip of main spike, TGW = mean thousand grain weight of threshed seed (adjusted to standard
15% moisture content)

Plots:
Plots (c.a. 9.6 m 2 )
established (r=4)
comparing varieties
Prima, Bora, Wodjil
and Australian variety
Pootallong
Field trial 2006
Height (cm) Yield (t/ha) Biomass
(D.wt t/ha)
Plt / m2
Prima 59 3.2 2.6 50
Bora 56 1.1 2.4 15
Wodjil 60 0.9 2.0 30
Pootallong 56 1.0 2.7 17

Plots
Plots sown for comparison with spaced plants and drills and
also selection of individual genotypes as appropriate
Prima Bora Wodjil

Plot
results:
by table
or graph
2004 2005 2006
Prima Yield (t/ha) 1.97 2.1 3.2
Biomass (t/ha) 2.8 2.6
Harvest (days
post-sowing)
133 129 119
Bora Yield (t/ha) 2.4 4.2 1.1
Biomass (t/ha) 5.7 2.4
Harvest (days
post-sowing)
142 158 134
Wodjil Yield (t/ha) 2.9 2.9 0.9
Biomass (t/ha) 5 2
Harvest (days
148 171 144
post-sowing)
Pootallong Yield (t/ha) 1
Biomass (t/ha) 2.7
t/ha
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Harvest (days
post-sowing)
Plot results by year
Yield Biomass Yield Biomass Yield Biomass Yield Biomass
144
2004
2005
2006
Prima Bora Wodjil Pootallong
Variety / yield, biomass

Variety performance in plots under different pH conditions

Variety performance in plots under different pH conditions
Ht (cm) Yield (t/ha) Biomass (Kg/ha)
2005 Unlimed Med lime High lime Unlimed Med lime High lime Unlimed Med lime High lime
Prima 58.8 52.7 54.7 1.9 2 1.6 3.2 3.1 2.8
Bora 75.1 76.8 66.6 4.2 4.3 3.5 5.8 5.1 4.3
Wodjil 56.8 57.3 50.1 3 2.8 2.8 5.3 6.2 4.6
2006
Prima 61.6 57.6 54.2 2.1 2 1.8 2.2 2.2 1.8
Bora 63 63.1 56.3 1.9 2 1.5 2.4 2.7 2.2
Wodjil 64.7 63.8 58.2 1.4 1.4 1.1 2.9 3.7 3.1
2007
Prima 75 69 61 0.6 0.2 0.4
Bora 84 73 65 0.3 0.1 0.1
Wodjil 80 74 63 1.4 1.2 0.9
Three agronomic characters measured under field conditions. Lupins grown in
replicated 6 x 2m plots at different liming regimes in the same field. (weather and
disease (botrytis) reduced yield in 2007)

pH Plots (Ficerdy) 2005:
Soil pH increased in the medium and high limed areas by
0.8 and 1.1 respectively, however pH also increased
across the whole of the experimental area. There
appeared to be a slight pH gradient across the field (from
plots to rep 3) and the general pH increase post harvest
showed the greatest increase where the starting pH was
lowest. The lime treated plots showed the greatest overall
pH increase but the untreated plots and drills also
increased and were more uniform for pH at the end of the
trial.
pH
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6
5.8
5.6
pH results - pre and post trial
unlimed med lime high lime rep1 rep2 rep3
Treatment
pre-trial
post-trial
pH Plots overall
Year Unlimed Med. Lime High Lime
2004 6.2 6.2 6.2
2005 6.7 7 7.3
2006 7 7.4 7.7
2007 6.8 7.5 7.5

Flowing Solution Culture (FSC)
Plants grown hydroponically and assessed for pH tolerance
pH 6
pH 7
pH 8

Flowing solution
culture
Preliminary study of each variety
at normal (50Mm) and restricted
(5Mm) Phosphate.
Prima
Bora
Wodjil
50Mm P 5Mm P
50Mm P 5Mm P
50Mm P 5Mm P

Flowing Solution Culture (FSC)
Genotype selections assessed
under different pH conditions
pH 6
pH 7
Assessment 4 (33 days post sowing)
showing effect of increased pH on plant
size and vigour
pH 8

Comparison of selected genotypes in Flowing Solution Culture
35
30
25
Plant Fresh Wt (g)
20
15
10
5
pH6
pH7
pH8
0
unselected seln. 1 seln. 22 seln. 23
Selection
Legend:
Data from FSC experiment 2008 L.angustifolius (indeterminate) in Replicated
randomised complete block trial, 33 days post-sowing (treatment=3, rep=2). Control =
unselected commercial variety Bora, Selections = improved genotype selections
tolerant to increased pH, FSC.1 (from earlier FSC experiment), pH 22 and pH 23 (field
selections from alkaline soil (pH > 8) Boston UK). (s.e.d. P> 0.05)

Crossing Programme:
Hybridisations completed
with genotypes selected
from field for agronomic
characteristics

Crossing Programme:
Hybridisations to date (Feb 08)
L.ang.
(Det.)
L.ang.
(Indet.) L.luteus Current
Aus seln. x Aus seln. – – Y F1
Aus seln. x Wodjil – – Y F1
pH seln. x pH seln. Y Y Y F1
pH seln. x Control Y Y Y F1
Ht seln. x Ht seln. Y Y Y F1
Ht seln. x Control Y Y Y F1
Short seln. x Short seln. Y Y Y F1
Short seln. x Control Y Y Y F1
Branched x Branched Y – – F1
Branched x Control Y – – F1
Control x Control F1
Restricted b. x Restricted b. – Pending – Pending
Restricted b. x Control – Pending – Pending
Yield seln. x Yield seln. Flowering Flowering Flowering F1/Repeat
Yield seln. x Control Flowering Flowering Flowering F1/Repeat
Early mat. x Early mat. Repeat Repeat Repeat Repeat
Early mat. x Control Repeat Repeat Repeat Repeat
Test (emasc.) Y Y Y Ongoing
Total
209 crosses

Markers and QTL analysis
• Transfer of marker from L. albus
• QTL analysis in L. albus
• RIL development
• Genomic approaches?

Expected outcomes
• Package of characterised germplasm with key
traits and associated genetic markers
• Basis for improvement programme
• Better understanding of constraints and needs
in UK

• Extent to which information and resources
from other legumes (including models) can
be used in lupins
• Characterisation of useful variation in
selected wild material and other species
• Wide crossing programme to introgress
novel traits not present in gene pool of
cultivated types.

Thank You….