Delve into the potential of wild populations of Lupinus hispanicus

Abstract Lupinus hispanicus Boiss. et Reut. is a Mediterranean wild species of lupin or lupine that grows naturally in the Iberian Peninsula. This species can be an interesting alternative leguminous crop adapted to marginal areas and is suitable for low-input cultivation. Thirty-one populations were collected in northwestern Spain from a diverse range of altitudes (from 25 to 1063 m). To know their potential for forage (green mass) and/or grain production for animal feed, populations were characterized under winter Mediterranean conditions in northwestern Spain. Twenty-one traits related to growing cycle, biomass and seed yield and domestication were measured during two years at two different locations. Based on morphological characteristics we classified all the populations into the sub-species L. hispanicus subsp. bicolor (synonymous with L. gredensis Gand.). This result helps clarifying the distribution of this sub-species in the Iberian Peninsula. Genotype × environment interaction was significant only for few traits, indicating the stability of the genotypes across environments. Populations showed phenotypical variability in their growing cycle and seed traits. Some accessions may have potential for grain (LUP-0048 and LUP-0052) or forage (LUP-0048 and LUP-0188) production and became an interesting alternative to other more input-dependent fodder crops in areas with poor soils and low supplies. Improving crucial traits as alkaloid content and seed permeability would be required before their utilization. It is also advisable to carry out trials in each planting zone to establish adequate crop density, planting date and ideal plant type. Useful characteristics from Lupinus hispanicus accessions (i.e. yield stability, waterlogging and poor soil tolerance and frost resistance) could be also introgressed into yellow lupin cultivars.