Two complementary dominant genes control flowering time in albus lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

Albus lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is an important grain legume for fertile and well-drained loamy soils of Western Australia (WA). WA experiences constant terminal drought and early flowering varieties are essential to avoid the drought stress. Inheritance of flowering time was studied in two breeding populations by examining F(1), F(2) and F(2)-derived F(3) generations. Early flowering was controlled by two complementary dominant genes, Ef1 and Ef2: when both dominant genes were present (Ef1_, Ef2_) the phenotype was early flowering, when both dominant genes were absent (ef1ef1, ef2ef2) the phenotype was late flowering and if only one gene was present (Ef1_, ef2ef2 or ef1ef1, Ef2_), the phenotype was intermediate. The identification of early flowering lines and understanding of the genetic control of flowering time will facilitate breeding for early flowering albus lupins. The qualitative nature of this trait is also amenable for developing DNA-based markers for marker-assisted selection.