Download GRDC project “Interspecific hybridisation of lupins”

GRDC project “Interspecific hybridisation of lupins”. UWA00094, 1/1/2006 –
31/12/2008. Staff: Dr Jon Clements (project supervisor, 50%), Mr John Quealy (Research
Assistant, 40%), Dr Larissa Prilyuk (40%), Mrs Leah Chong (Research Assistant, 40%).
Lupin breeding in Australia could benefit from the additional genetic diversity of
interspecific hybrids. Currently the value of lupins is constrained by several seed quality
factors which contribute to their position as a relatively low value feed grain. Improving
seed quality of Lupinus angustifolius (narrow-leafed lupin), the most widely adapted
species, by increasing protein and oil content or other specific components (e.g. sulphur
amino acids) would allow the grain to be sold in a wider range of feed and food markets.
Combining desirable attributes among the key crop species (L. angustifolius, L. albus, L.
luteus and L. mutabilis) would help to improve an individual species more rapidly. For
example a priority is to transfer the seed quality, the brown spot and pleiochaeta root rot
tolerance traits from L. luteus to L. angustifolius. Transferring anthracnose resistance,
metribuzin tolerance, wide adaptation or aphid tolerance from L. angustifolius to L. luteus
would be enormously beneficial in the breeding of yellow lupins. Similarly, transferring
high oil and protein characters from pearl lupin (L. mutabilis) to L. angustifolius would
be valuable if this were possible. The intended outcomes for the project are:
 Produce true F1 and backcrossed hybrid lines by focusing on crossing L. angustifolius
or L. .luteus with L. .luteus, L. albus and L. mutabilis and additionally L. albus x L.
mutabilis.
 Development of best methods for achieving true hybrids among the crop lupin species
including direct hand crossing and seed production on the plant and through embryo
rescue.
 Development of a routine validation of the hybrid nature of the resulting lines by
molecular marker methods already in use at DAFWA for lupin breeding programs
within species.