Download GRDC project “Pearl lupin - development of the first

GRDC project “Pearl lupin - development of the first Australian cultivar for
commercial evaluation”. UWA00093, 1/7/2005 – 30/6/2008; 1/7/2008 – 30/6/2011.
Staff: Jon Clements (20%), Dr Bevan Buirchell (project supervisor), Gordon Francis
(casual Technical Officer, 50%).
The pearl lupin (L. mutabilis) originates from South America where high alkaloid types
have been cultivated for centuries and eaten as a traditional food after de-bittering. Grain
protein and oil levels (43 and 17% respectively) rival and in some cases exceed soybean.
Pearly lupin oil quality is very good being high in unsaturated fatty acids and low in
erucic acid. It has a thin seed coat (13%) similar to soybean making it highly suitable for
dehulling. The protein is also of higher quality than narrow-leafed lupin in terms of
lysine and sulphur amino acid levels and pearl lupin should receive in excess of $100
/tonne premium over narrow-leafed lupin in high specification aquaculture and
monogastric feed markets. The current research project has bred low alkaloid, earlier
flowering breeding lines with reasonable agronomy. In the next few years pre-breeding
activities will aim to:
 Improve the grain yield of pearl lupin breeding lines whilst incorporating adequate
levels of disease resistance.
 Determine what agronomic traits are associated with higher yield through genotype
by environment field experiments
 Assess the value of the grain to aquaculture and pork diets
 Release a cultivar within the next 3-4 years with competitive yields for medium to
high rainfall regions on medium textured soil types in southern Australia.