Genotypic and environmental effects on lupin seed composition

Currently, white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is gaining importance due to its high nitrogen fixation capability and potential in sustainable crop production systems. Even though research conducted in Australia, Chile, Germany, New Zealand, and Portugal has indicated lupin's positive potential as human and animal food, such information from Virginia and adjoining areas of the United States is not available. In addition, effects of growing environment and genotypes on lupin seed composition need to be characterized to evaluate lupin's potential as a food and feed crop. Towards this end, seed of 12 lupin genotypes produced in Maine (USA) and Virginia (USA) were compared to determine genotypic and environmental effects on contents of protein, sugar, oil, various fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals. The protein content of dry seed was not affected by growing environment. However, growing environment had significant effects on contents of total sugar, amino acids, oil, fatty acids, and minerals. Significant variation existed among 12 lupin genotypes for various traits when composition of seed produced in Virginia was evaluated. The results indicated that site-specific evaluation of adapted lupin genotypes for chemical composition should be included in efforts to evaluate lupin's overall potential as a food or feed crop.