Genotypic and environmental effects on lupin seed composition.

Area of Science:

• Agronomy
• Plant Science
• Food Science

Background:

• White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is increasingly recognized for its nitrogen-fixing ability and role in sustainable agriculture.
• Existing research highlights lupin's potential as human and animal food, but data from the US, particularly Virginia, is lacking.
• Understanding the influence of growing environment and genetic variations on lupin seed composition is crucial for its utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the seed composition of 12 lupin genotypes grown in Maine and Virginia, USA.
• To determine the genotypic and environmental effects on protein, sugar, oil, fatty acid, amino acid, and mineral content.
• To evaluate lupin's potential as a food and feed crop in the specified regions.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation of 12 white lupin genotypes in Maine and Virginia.
• Chemical analysis of harvested seeds to quantify protein, sugar, oil, fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals.
• Statistical analysis to assess genotypic and environmental impacts on seed composition.

Main Results:

• Growing environment did not significantly affect the protein content of dry lupin seed.
• Environmental factors significantly influenced total sugar, amino acid, oil, fatty acid, and mineral content.
• Significant genotypic variation was observed for several traits when evaluating seed composition from Virginia.

Conclusions:

• Environmental conditions play a critical role in shaping the nutritional profile of white lupin seeds.
• Genotype-specific performance varies, necessitating the evaluation of adapted lupin varieties.
• Site-specific assessments of lupin genotypes are essential for accurately determining their food and feed potential in the US.