Variation and evolution of alkaloid complex in yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) during domestication

Abstract

A colection of 178 primitive and cultivated forms of Lupinus luteus was analysed with respect to composition and level of alkaloids in seeds. A considerable quantitative and qualitative variation in alkaloids was found in the analysed forms. All analysed primitive forms, not cultivated in Central Europe, contained gramine and lupinine; the majority had sparteine as well. Contrary to the common opinion, yellow lupine has three basic alkaloids, i.e. gramine, lupinine and sparteine. Moreover, a large number of primitive forms showed traces of unidentified alkaline compounds with alkaloid characteristics. It appears that in the course of introduction of yellow lupine to central Europe, the composition and level of its alkaloids have been gradually changing. Their reproduction and natural selection remarkably decreased the number of forms containing gramine as well as the total level of alkaloids in seeds. Cross breeding and screening for low alkaloid bearing forms significantly decreased the total level of gramine as well as the number of forms containing gramine and almost entirely eliminated traces of unidentified alkaloids. One new form was found to have sparteine and only a little of lupinine (total level of alkaloids 0,04%).