Evaluation of agronomic traits and seed yield of lupin (Lupinus spp. L.) germplasm under environmental conditions of Karaj in Iran

Introduction of new crops is one of the strategic approaches for production of feed for livestock and hence protein requirements for the increasing population. White lupine (Lupinus albus L.), yellow lupine (L. luteus L.) and blue (narrow leaf) lupine (L. angustifolius L.) are legumes that can be used for production of feed for livestock and as result protein requirements for the increasing population. To evaluate the possibility of cultivation of lupine and to evaluate seed yield as well as agronomic traits of lupin germplasm, 141 accessions of three lupin species; white, yellow, and blue lupins, recieved from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany, were grownin greenhouse and field in 2017-2018 to increase their seeds. Since only sufficient seeds obtained from white lupin accessions, 108 white lupin accessions with Dieta white lupin cultivar as control were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications at research field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran, in 2019 and 2020. Days to flowering, plant height, number of pod.plant-1, number of seed.pod-1, number of seed.plant-1 and seed yield were scored and recorded. Combined analysis of variance of data for white lupine accessions showed that there was significant differences among the studied genotypes for all traits. The highest mean grain yield was observed for genotypes; No. 1 (cv. Dieta), No. 27 and No. 9, No. 50 with 2180, 2130, 2100 and 2030 kg.ha-1, respectively. Therefore, the diversity for seed yield and yield components observed in this germplasm suggested that it is possible to identify the superior genotypes for different traits to initiate breeding program and to develop suitable cultivars adapted to different regions with different environmental and soil fertility conditions.