Table 3. Seed yield traits for the F2:7 RILs.

1
TWO THUMBS UP FOR YIELD TRAIT VARIATION IN WHITE
LUPIN S.L. Noffsinger and Edzard van
Santen Department of Agronomy and Soils, 202
Funchess Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849-5412
ABSTRACT A 'Tifwhite-78' derived line
(indeterminate, low alkaloid, white flowers,
small seed size) was crossed with 'Lucyanne'
(determinate, low alkaloid, white flowers, large
seed size). From a single F1 seed, 208
F27 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were
developed by single seed descent (SSD) in the
greenhouse, and 6 plants per F27 RIL were
hand-sown on October 25, 2002 at E.V. Smith
Research Center in central Alabama, USA. Due to
insect destruction of the mainstem in many lines
that winter, the basal mainstem and branches
developed at the same time and functioned like
mainstems and branches. The growth habit range
was very diverse (Fig. 1, 2), and 13 RILs were
segregating for determinate vs. indeterminate
growth in the F27 and F8. Growth habit variation
better fit a 97 ratio with a two or more gene
model this also indicates that within a single
cross, one could select out a broad range of
growth habit types if needed. Mean seed weight
and pod wall proportion, as well as yield trait
variation with regard to growth habit classes
will be discussed. The variation in agronomic
traits should provide a good basis for beginning
both genetic and yield studies.
Table 3. Seed yield traits for the F27
RILs.
RESULTS The majority of the F27 RILS had
mainstem damage caused by lupin fly (Hylemia
lupini L.) on at least 1 or 2 plants, if not the
entire 6 plants. Spraying the F8 with
insecticides throughout the winter of 2003-04
seemed to eliminate the lupin fly problem, and
resulted in a dramatic decrease in damaged
mainstems. Growth habit variation was beyond that
predicted by previous assumptions of a 31 ratio
(Fig. 1, Table 1 Noffsinger et al., 2006b),
indicating not only that more than one locus is
responsible for the growth habit trait, but also
that one could obtain a continuous range of
variation for growth habit if needed from a
single cross. The stability of growth habit
ratings in the 2 to 3.5 range was least stable
from the F27  to F8 generations (Noffsinger et
al., 2006b) although some individual RILs were
stable in that range (data not shown). The
regression of growth habit type on main-stem
chlorophyll meter readings (LSMEANS) for the F27
RILS provided a quadratic equation (y 64.2
1.28x 0.36x2 R2 0.96) indicating
pleiotrophic effects of growth habit, causing
epigonal and severely determinate types to be
darker in leaf color/chlorophyll content
(Noffsinger et al., 2006b). The range of values
shown in Fig. 3 indicates that one could possibly
select for higher chlorophyll content within
growth habit types, if this were found to be tied
to a useful trait such as water use efficiency,
which has been found in corn and peanut. Height
to first mainstem pod was 5 to 107 cm and height
to first basal mainstem pod was 2 to 120 cm in
the F27 (data not shown). Some of this was
growth habit related but, there was still
considerable variation within growth habit types
and even within some RILs, indicating
opportunities for selection. In Table 3, pod wall
proportion was less for epigonal types (1), which
should be expected given the early abortion of
most unfilled pods. The low seed weight values
indicate inheritance from Tifwhite-78.
OBJECTIVE Examine agronomic traits in segregating
RILs of winter-type white lupin.
INTRODUCTION In any breeding program, genetic
variation is necessary for progress in selection
and to obtain genotypes which fit either the
environment and/or the particular crop use. In
the case of winter-type white lupin (Lupinus
albus L.), multiple potential uses for this crop
require selection for traits which meet the use
of a particular variety, e.g. more severe
determinate growth for a variety with uniform
seed size for snacks and other types of human
consumption vs. indeterminate growth with rapid
regrowth for a deer forage variety (Noffsinger et
al., 2006a). In this study, we examined 208
F27 RILs obtained from a single F1 seed for
segregating agronomic traits.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Original Cross
Tifwhite-78 x Lucyanne
indeterminate
determinate low alkaloid
high alkaloid white flowers
white flowers small to ave seed
size large seed size 2002-03 EV
Smith Research Ctr (Central AL) 208 F27
RILs 6 seeds hand-sown, 1 replicate
Sown October 25, 2002 2003-04 EV Smith Research
Ctr (Central AL) 13 segregating 2002-03
RILs sown plant to plot 189
non-segregating 2002-03 RILs bulked for
mainstem seed and hand-sown as F8 Also
planted AU-Homer (cover crop,
indeterminate) Deer_305
(indeterminate) Deer_310
(indeterminate) Lucyanne
XA100 (dwarf) 10 seeds/plot, 2 replicates
Sown October 29, 2003 In the greenhouse,
F27 RILs were produced by SSD without the
presence of pollinating insects.
CONCLUSIONS Segregation for growth habit in 13 of
the 208 F27  RILs and segregation in the
following F8 lines (data not shown) indicates
that one could obtain a better test for grain
yield differences among growth habit types with
segregating sister lines. In the past, scientists
have used distantly related cultivars which had
growth habit differences to examine grain yield
differences. The variation in agronomic traits
should provide a good basis for beginning both
genetic and yield studies, and future breeding.
REFERENCES Noffsinger, S.L., H.L. Bhardwaj, and
E. van Santen. 2006a. An ideotype for winter-type
grain white lupin in the southeastern USA. p.
64-67. In E. van Santen and G.D. Hill (eds.)
Proceedings of the 11th International Lupin
Conference, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. May
4-5, 2005. International Lupin Association,
Canterbury, New Zealand. Noffsinger, S.L., H.L.
Bhardwaj, and E. van Santen. 2006b. Cherish your
exceptions some unusual phenotypes in an F8
indeterminate x determinate RIL population. p.
72-79. In E. van Santen and G.D. Hill (eds.)
Proceedings of the 11th International Lupin
Conference, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. May
4-5, 2005. International Lupin Association,
Canterbury, New Zealand.