Selection for economic characters in Lupinus angustifolius and L. digitatus

Abstract

A search among field populations of Lupinus angustifolius L. and L. digitalus Forsk. yielded two morphologically and genetically distinct lines in each species with markedly reduced pod-shattering at maturity. In all four lines, reduced shattering was found to be due to a single recessive gene, the two genes of each species being non-allelic and probably unlinked. Double homozygotes were obtained, and proved to be fully non-shattering in both species. The anatomical changes resulting in reduced- or non-shattering are of at least two types. In one type of each species there is fusion of the normally divided strips of sclerenchyma in the pod seams, similar to that in the non-shattering Strain 3535A of L. luteus. In the others there is a weakening of the sclerified inner layer (endocarp) of the pod walls, similar to that in L. albus, L. mutabilis, and many other cultivated legumes. It is suggested that at least two independent homologous series of genes control pod-shattering in the genus Lupinus.