A comparison between meals prepared from the seeds of different varieties of lupin as protein supplements to barley-based diets for growing pigs

Four experiments were conducted in order to examine the growth and voluntary feed consumption of young growing pigs fed on barley-based diets containing as the sole protein supplement lupin-seed meal (LSM) from either Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniwhite (UW), Uniharvest (UH) or L. albus cv. Neuland (NL).Under the restricted feeding regimen of the first experiment pigs receiving diets containing either 31% or 43% of either UW or UH grew at similar rates and with similar efficiency of feed utilisation from 27.5 to 85 kg live weight. By contrast, all pigs fed on diets containing these same proportions of NL refused such large amounts of feed immediately after the diets were offered that their growth halted.In the second and third experiments the voluntary feed consumption of pigs weighing 18 to 34 kg and receiving diets containing 37 to 43% of any of three distinct lines of NL was significantly less than those of pigs receiving UW diets, to the extent in some cases that body-weight loss occurred.In the fourth experiment the growth and voluntary feed intakes of 20 to 30 kg pigs fed on a control diet containing a mixture of fishmeal and dried blood as the protein supplement were greater than those of pigs fed a UW diet, which in turn were greater than those of pigs receiving NL as the source of supplementary protein. Reduction of the alkaloid content of NL by ethanol extraction resulted in a recovery of growth and feed intake to levels similar to those supported by the UW diet.     

Inhibition of seed germination by quinolizidine alkaloids

Germination of Lactuca sativa L. was inhibited by mixtures of quinolizidine alkaloids. The alkaloid esters resulted in the strongest inhibition: 6 mM 13-tigloyloxylupanine inhibited germination by 100%, whereas the other lupin alkaloids, such as lupanine and sparteine, gave a 45 and 20% inhibition, respectively. Seedlings of Lupinus albus L., which are not affected by quinolizidine alkaloids, excrete lupanine and 13-tigloyloxylupanine into the surrounding medium by their roots. It is assumed that lupin alkaloids are potential compounds of plant-plant interaction (i.e. allelopathy) besides their role in plant-herbivore interrelations.     

Modelling of quinolizidine alkaloid net flows in Lupinus albus and between L. albus and the parasite Cuscuta reflexa: new insights into the site of quinolizidine alkaloid synthesis

The present work reveals new and completely different conclusionsabout the alkaloid economy of symbiotically fed Lupinus albusand L. albus parasitized by Cuscuta reflexa in the study periodof 43–55 d after sowing of lupin. Net flows of alkaloidswithin lupin and between host and parasite were calculated usingthe molar ratio of alkaloid nitrogen: total nitrogen combinedwith known net flows of nitrogen in the transport fluids andanalysing alkaloid accumulation in plant organs by HRGC. Incontrast to previous studies, quinolizidine alkaloids were predictedto be synthesized mainly in the root of L. albus and to be predominantlytransported via xylem to the apical plant shoot organs. Parasitismby C. reflexa for 12 d induced a decline of alkaloid contentin the host L. albus up to 53% compared to control plants andalkaloid synthesis was halved—apparently due to a shortageof the precursor lysine. In spite of an additional decreasein nitrogen levels at the second harvest, the host-parasitesystem showed a1.3-fold higher alkaloid content than the controlplants, 63% of the total alkaloids being attracted by Cuscuta.This indicates (a) restriction of catabolic processes withininfected lupins, (b) a massive shift of nitrogen metabolismin the direction of alkaloids and (c) an enormous sink potentialof Cuscuta for nitrogenous compounds. Although xylem was foundto be the main translocation system for alkaloids, the modellingof alkaloid flows predicts Cuscuta to derive only 4.5% of itstotal alkaloid supply from the xylem and 95.5% from the phloem.By analogy with nitrogen flows, this finding requires xylemphloemtransfers which were assumed to occur within the stem axis oflupin. A similar proportion regarding the contribution of xylemand phloem to the supply of Cuscuta was obtained for the netflows of two selected alkaloids, lupanine and 13     

Alkaloid level in narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius, influences green peach aphid reproductive performance

Two viviparous parthenogenetic clones of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), one collected from Rydalmere, New South Wales (NSW), and the other from South Perth (SP), Western Australia, were reared on radish, Raphanus sativus L. cv. Scarlet Globe, under controlled conditions. The NSW clone was fed on simple artificial diets containing alkaloid extracted from narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius L. cv. Fest., and its reproductive performance monitored over 112 h. Forty (40) h into the experiment and thereafter, aphids on the control diet (sucrose solution) produced significantly more offspring (P<0.05) than those on diets containing alkaloid. In a separate experiment, apterae of each clone were caged on three lines (cv. Yorrel, cv. Danja and 84L:441) of narrow-leafed lupin, and allowed to reproduce. The first three offspring were retained, and all developed to 3rd or 4th instar stage. Two nymphs were removed, and the remaining nymph reared through. All three lines produced adults. The number of young produced were counted over 11 days. Fecundity of the SP clone was lower on line 84L:441, but there was no difference in the fecundity of the NSW clone. Phloem exudate and green tissue was concomitantly collected from all lines, and analysed by GC-MS for the alkaloids lupanine and 13-hydroxylupanine. Line 84L:441 contained the highest level of total alkaloids in both phloem and tissue. All experiments indicate that alkaloid level may suppress fecundity of green peach aphids.     

Variability for protein and oil quality in Lupinus albus

Amino acid composition and fatty acid composition were determined on seed samples of a range of white lupin (Lupinus albus) cultivars and accessions grown in either of two environments.Variability between genotypes was found for lysine, arginine and glutamic acid content, but not for the concentrations of other amino acids. The deficiency in sulphurcontaining amino acids, typical of legume proteins, was evident, with methionine and cyst(e)ine totalling only 2.2% of the protein. Variability was limited, indicating that improvement by breeding would be impracticable. Lupinus albus differed slightly from other lupin species in amino acid composition, having higher levels of threonine, tyrosine and isoleucine, but a lower level of glutamic acid than both L. angustifolius and L. luteus. Four low-alkaloid lines of L albus each had higher lysine content than the high-alkaloid line, but ‘Kiev Mutant’, despite earlier claims, had a lysine level no higher than the other three low-alkaloid lines.Fatty acid composition of the seed oil varied considerably between genotypes. Oleic acid ranged from 43.6 to 54.4% and linolenic acid from 6.7 to 15.2%, these two fatty acids being negatively correlated at one site. Linoleic acid content varied between 17.2 and 26.9% and was not correlated with other fatty acids. Total oil content averaged 9.6% with little variability between lines.It is concluded that, relative to other lupin species, L. albus has a more favourable amino acid profile for its utilisation in cereal-based diets for animals, particularly if the energy source is wheat, which is deficient in threonine. The higher oil content would be an important energy benefit to such diets and may allow their protein/energy balance to be maintained at higher levels of incorporation of L. albus seed meal than is possible with other lupin species.     

Feeding preferences of the weevils Sitona gressorius and Sitona griseus on different lupin genotypes and the role of alkaloids

The weevils Sitona gressorius and Sitona griseus are specialist herbivores on lupins in Europe. The adult weevils feed on the leaves, and the larvae on the root nodules of the plants. This causes severe damage to lupin crops. In the present study, the feeding preferences of lupin weevil adults on different lupin genotypes were examined with respect to a possible effect of lupin alkaloids on host selection. A total of 12 genotypes from the species Lupinus albus, L. angustifolius, L. luteus, and L. nanus were grown in a field experiment and the feeding damage on the leaves caused by naturally occurring lupin weevil adults was estimated. Additionally, a feeding choice test with S. gressorius adults was performed to examine feeding preferences under laboratory conditions. A gas chromatographic analysis provided information on the alkaloid content and profiles in the leaves of the tested lupin genotypes. In the field experiment, significant differences in the extent of the feeding damage within the 12 lupin genotypes were observed. The dual-choice feeding bioassay did not show discrimination of lupin species, but two L. angustifolius genotypes were significantly less affected than the standard L. luteus “Bornal”. The alkaloid analysis revealed large contrasts in alkaloid concentrations and profiles in the leaves of the tested genotypes. Correlation analysis with the results from the field and laboratory did not indicate a significant influence of the total foliar alkaloid content on the extent of weevil feeding.     

Intraspecific variation in alkaloid profile of four lupine species with implications for the pea aphid probing behaviour

The alkaloid profile of white lupine Lupinus albus L. cv. ‘Boros’ and ‘Butan’, narrow-leaf lupine L. angustifolius L. cv. ‘Bojar’, ‘Graf’, ‘Karo’, ‘Mirela’, and ‘Sonet’, yellow lupine L. luteus L. cv. ‘Dukat’, ‘Parys’, ‘Perkoz’, and ‘Talar’, and wild species big-leaf lupine L. polyphyllus Lindl. was studied. The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris probing behaviour was monitored using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique.Four types of feeding behaviour were recognized. First, on highly acceptable L. luteus cv. ‘Dukat’, the total and mean duration of probing, time to reach phloem phase, and the duration of the first phloem phase were comparable to those in aphids on control plant Pisum sativum. Second, on partially acceptable L. luteus cv. ‘Talar’, pathway activities were slightly impeded, and the probes were more numerous and slightly shorter than on control plants. The phloem phase occurred sporadically, and feeding was terminated early after a brief period of ingestion. Third, on unpalatable but acceptable L. angustifolius cv. ‘Bojar’ and ‘Sonet’, and L. luteus cv. ‘Parys’ and ‘Perkoz’, the probes were numerous and usually epidermal. The phloem phase occurred rarely, and when it did, it was short and consisted mainly of watery salivation. Finally, on unacceptable L. albus cv. ‘Boros’ and ‘Butan’, L. angustifolius cv. ‘Graf’, ‘Karo’, ‘Mirela’, and L. polyphyllus, total probing time and individual probes were short and phloem phase did not occur.Eighteen alkaloids were identified: one piperidine alkaloid (ammodendrine), one indole (gramine), ten quinolizidine alkaloids (one tricyclic and nine tetracyclic compounds), and six esters. All lupine varieties that contained lupanine, its derivatives and especially their esters appeared to be unacceptable to the pea aphid, independent of the total concentration of any specific lupanine alkaloid. In contrast, sparteine and its derivatives did not seem to affect aphid probing significantly.     

Comparative analysis of the contribution of phytochelatins to cadmium and arsenic tolerance in soybean and white lupin

The biosynthesis of phytochelatins (PCs) plays a crucial role in the detoxification and homeostasis of heavy metals and metalloids in plants. However, in an increasing number of plant species metal(loid) tolerance is not well correlated with the accumulation of PCs: tolerant ecotypes frequently contain lower levels of PCs than non-tolerant ecotypes. In this study we have compared the responses of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Resnik) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Marta) to cadmium and arsenate in order to assess the role of homophytochelatins (hPCs) in the tolerance of soybean to these toxic elements. Soybean plants treated with Cd and As showed a high contribution of homo-glutathione (hGSH) to the pool of thiols in shoots in comparison to white lupin. Higher levels of hPCs in Cd-treated soybeans compared to PCs in lupins did not prevent growth inhibition. In contrast, the role of hPCs in the detoxification mechanism to arsenate in soybean seems to be clearer, showing higher thiol concentrations and lower growth reductions than those present in lupin plants.     

Lupin alkaloids from sophora chrysophylla

A new lupin alkaloid, (?)-mamanine N-oxide, was isolated from Sophora chrysophylla together with 18 known alkaloids including some unusual lupin alkaloids such as kuraramine, lamprolobine, epilamprolobine, epilamprolobine N-oxide, (+)-mamanine and (?)-pohakuline. It was also shown that the alkaloid constituents of S. chrysophylla differed considerably in the leaves, stems and seeds.     

Dependence of radiostrontium uptake by pea and lupin on the content of calcium in the nutrient solution

In lupin (Lupinus albus L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L., cv. Raman) it was shown that the uptake of⁸⁹Sr from Knop's nutrient solution is significantly increased from a solution with decreased calcium content (one tenth of the normal content) and is slightly decreased from a solution with higher calcium content (150% of the normal content). The calciphile pea absorbs approximately 50% more calcium than the calciphobe lupin, and accordingly 50% radiostrontium less. The pea plant more strongly blocks the translocation of radiostrontium from roots to overground parts, as is proved by the higher discrimination factor of pea (i.e. by the ratio of specific activities of mCi⁸⁹ Sr/g Ca of roots to overground parts). The presence of chlorine in the nutrient solution decreases the content of radiostrontium per gram of dry matter, both in pea and lupin. Radiostrontium is absorbed quickly by both species of plants and is autoradiographically detectable as early as 2 hours after the introduction of radiostrontium to the nutrient solution. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01GP049 00004     

The Role of the Stem in Phloem Loading of Minerals in Lupinus albus L. cv. Ultra

Collections of phloem sap made over a 40-day period from a varietyof locations on nodulated white lupin plants (Lupinus albusL. cv. ultra) showed considerable enrichment with K⁺ and Mg²⁺in the phloem streams destined for the shoot apices or fruitsrelative to the streams arising from the leaflets (up to 5.5times). Sodium showed enrichment in the streams destined forthe roots (up to 2.5 times) but only when present in the watersupply at a high level (3 mM). The stem, in view of its centrallocation in the transport pathway, is seen as an organ capableof redistributing minerals in the phloem independently of photosynthate. Lupinus albus L., lupin, phloem loading, magnesium, potassium, sodium, mineral elements     

Xylem Fluids of White Lupin (Lupinus albus) Cultivars Susceptible and Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lupini Race 3

Xylem fluids from white lupin cv. Neuland, susceptible to wilt causes by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini , promoted germination of conidia and chlamydospores of he pathogen, and the production of micro-conidia, to a greater extent than did xylem fluids from the resistant cv. Primorskij No sugars, organic acids or phenolic compounds were detected in the xylem fluids, but a number of amino acids were found, and the concentration of some differed in xylem fluids from the two cultivars; on the whole, concentrations were greater in the susceptible cv. Neuland. Synthetic amino acids were supplied to the fungus in vitro and both stimulatory and inhibitory effects (according to the compound and its concentration) were noted upon the germination of conidia and chlamydospores and on mycelial growth and the production of conidia. The role of amino acids and other compounds in the susceptibility of white lupin to wilt is discussed.     

Isolation of bacterial strains capable of using lupanine,the predominant quinolizidine alkaloid in white lupin,as sole carbon and energy source

Seven Gram-negative bacterial strains, capable of using lupanine, the predominant quinolizidine alkaloid in white lupin, as sole carbon and energy source, were isolated from soil in whichLupinus albus andL. luteus had been grown. A metabolic profile system (BIOLOG) identified only three of the seven isolates, two asXanthomonas oryzae pvoryzae E and one asGluconobacter cerinus. The maximum specific growth rates of the seven isolates when incubated at 27°C in a medium containing as sole carbon source 2 g L^–1 of lupanine, ranged from 0.05 to 0.13 h^–1 and the concentration of dry biomass at the stationary phase ranged from 0.7 to 1.1 g L^–1. Unidentified strains IST20B and IST40D exhibited the highest maximum specific growth rates (0.13h^–1), removed 99% of the initial lupanine after 30 h of incubation, and the dry biomass yields did not exceed 0.4 g per g lupanine consumed. Strain IST20B is of potential use forL. albus debittering because, after 32 h growth in aqueous extracts ofL. albus, 85% of initial alkaloids were removed while the concentration of soluble protein was only reduced by 8%.     

Two cage-type lupin alkaloids from Sophora franchetiana

Two new cage-type lupin alkaloids, (?)-tsukushinamine-B and tsukushinamine-C, have been isolated from the fresh epigeal parts of Sophora franchetiana, along with (?)-cytisine, (?)-N-formylcytisine, (?)-rhombifoline, (?)-anagyrine, (?)-baptifoline and (±)-ammodendrine, as well as (?)-tsukushinamine-A. The structures of these novel tsukushinamine-type lupin alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic data and partly by a chemical reaction. Variations of the alkaloid contents in the seeds, seedlings and various parts of S. franchetiana were also examined.     

Lupin-seed meal (Lupinus albus cv. Hamburg) as a source of protein for growing pigs

Two experiments were performed to evaluate Lupinus albus cv. Hamburg as a source of protein for growing pigs. The first was in a factorial design, involving two levels of feeding (restricted and ad libitum) and five isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets (0, 10.3, 20.7 and 31% Hamburg, and 31% Hamburg supplemented with 0.20% synthetic L-lysine). The growth performance of pigs from 22 to 70 kg live weight was unaffected by 10.3% Hamburg replacing soya-bean meal and meat and bone meal, but at higher levels both growth rate and feed conversion efficiency were significantly depressed. Feed intake was not significantly affected by the level of Hamburg, but dressing percentage decreased significantly from 84.3 to 80.2% as the proportion of Hamburg was increased from 0 to 31%. The addition of synthetic lysine to the 31% Hamburg diet improved feed conversion efficiency, but not to the level of the diet containing no Hamburg.Hamburg contained 2100 mg/kg manganese and the effects of levels of manganese from 72 to 1330 mg/kg on pig performance between 20 and 55 kg live weight were studied in the second experiment. Up to 1330 mg/kg manganese in the diet did not affect the growth performance or carcass quality of pigs. In both experiments, the growth performance of pigs given 31 or 33% Hamburg diets, each supplemented with 0.20% synthetic L-lysine, was lower than that of pigs receiving diets without Hamburg.The digestible energy content and alkaloid content of Hamburg were 18.2 (SE ± 0.38) MJ/kg dry matter and 0.018%, respectively.     

The isopentenyl isoflavone luteone as a pre-infectional antifungal agent in the genus Lupinus

The prenylated isoflavone luteone has been isolated from healthy leaves of Lupinus albus and 11 other lupin species. Evidence is presented that this compound occurs as a leaf surface constituent. In vitro tests indicate that luteone and a second unidentified isoflavone frorn L. albus possess antifungal activity sufficient to support their proposed role as pre-infectional resistance factors. No evidence was obtained to suggest that phytoalexins were produced by the fungus-infected leaves of L. albus.     

New Coumaronochromones from White Lupin,Lupinus albus L. (Leguminosae)

A further investigation of the isoflavonoid constituents occurring in roots of the white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Kievskij Mutant) has yielded five new coumaronochromones named lupinalbin A (la), B (2a), C (3), D (4) and E (5). These isoflavonoids were identified by physicochemical methods involving the use of biogenetically related 2′-hydroxyisoflavones as reference compounds. The presence of the rare dihydrofurano-isoflavone, erythrinin C (16), in white lupin roots has also been established.     

The influence of narrow-leafed lupin seed fermentation on their chemical composition and ileal digestibility and microbiota in growing pigs

The aims of this study were to provide a controlled fermentation process of blue lupin seeds (Lupinus angustifolius, cv. Neptun), monitor the changes in seed composition and determine the influence of the fermentation on the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids in growing pigs, compared with raw lupin seeds. The fermentation with bacteria and yeast was conducted for 24 h at 25ºC under aerobic conditions. Seed fermentation increased the contents of CP, fibre, fat and ash and most of the analysed amino acids but reduced the levels of the nitrogen-free extractives. Furthermore, fermentation decreased the contents of raffinose family oligosaccharides and phytic acids but increased the alkaloid content. The AID was estimated on three barrows (mean initial body weight 25 kg), surgically fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum. The pigs received three diets, each for 6 d, within three experimental periods (3 × 3 Latin Square design). The diets contained soybean meal (Group SBM), raw lupin seeds (Group RL) or fermented lupin seeds (Group FL) as solely protein sources. Fermentation had a positive impact on the AID of CP and methionine, cysteine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and valine (p < 0.05). Feeding raw or fermented lupin seeds did not affect the microbial status of the ileal digesta. Moreover, ammonia content in the caecal digesta did not differ between Groups RL and FL, although it was significantly higher than in Group SBM. It can be concluded that the fermentation process modified the chemical composition of nutrients in seeds, which can influence the digestibility and utilisation of the fermentation product in animal diets compared to raw seeds.     

Potassium nutrition effects on seed alkaloid concentrations,yield and mineral content of lupins (Lupinus angustifolius)

To ensure that narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) meets feed quality standards, the concentration of alkaloids must be kept under the maximum acceptable limit of 200 mg kg^–1 DM. One of the factors that may affect seed alkaloid concentration is soil nutrient deficiency. In this paper, we report the results of glasshouse and field experiments that tested the effect of potassium (K) deficiency on seed alkaloid concentrations. In the glasshouse, seed alkaloid concentrations increased by 385, 400 and 205% under severe K deficiency in sweet varieties (Danja, Gungurru and Yorrel, respectively) of L. angustifolius. The concentration of alkaloids in Fest, the bitter variety, was always high regardless of soil K status. At all levels of applied K (0–240 mg kg^–1 soil), lupanine was the predominant alkaloid in sweet varieties, whereas 13-hydroxylupanine prevailed in the bitter variety. Seed yield of all varieties increased exponentially with increasing amounts of applied K, reaching a maximum at 60 mg K kg^–1 soil. In the field, application of K to deficient soils decreased seed alkaloid concentration at Badgingarra, Western Australia (WA) but not at Nyabing, WA, in 1996. In both field trials, seed yield and mineral content were not affected by the amounts of K fertiliser applied. These findings highlighted the need for adequate K fertilisation of deficient soils in WA to avoid the risk of producing low quality lupin seed with high alkaloid concentrations. K deficiency is involved in stimulating alkaloid production in sweet varieties of L. angustifolius.     

Effects of Glycolate Pathway Intermediates on Glycine Decarboxylation and Serine Synthesis in Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The study aimed to test the hypothesis that ammonia production by Rhizobium bacteroids provides not only a source of nitrogen for growth but has a central regulatory role in maintaining the metabolic activity and functional integrity of the legume nodule. Production of ammonia in intact, attached nodules was interrupted by short-term (up to 3 days) exposure of the nodulated root systems of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp cv Vita 3: Rhizobium CB 756) and lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv Ultra: Rhizobium WU 425) to atmospheres of argon:oxygen (80:20; v/v). Treatment did not affect nodule growth, levels of plant cell and bacteroid protein, leghaemoglobin content, or nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity (acetylene reduction) but severely reduced (by 90%) synthesis and export of the major nitrogenous solutes produced by the two symbioses (ureides in cowpea, amides in lupin). Glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) and NAD:glutamate oxidoreductase (EC I.4.1.2) were more or less stable to Ar:O₂ treatment, but activities of the glutamine-utilizing enzymes, glutamate synthase (EC 2.6.1.53), asparagine synthetase (EC 6.3.5.4) (lupin only), and de novo purine synthesis (cowpea only), were all markedly reduced. Production and export of nitrogenous solutes by both symbioses resumed within 2 hours after transferring Ar:O₂-treated plants back to air. In each case the major exported product of fixation after transfer was initially glutamine, reflecting the relative stability of glutamine synthetase activity. Subsequently, glutamine declined and products of its assimilation became predominant consistent with resurgence of enzymes for the synthesis of asparagine in lupin and ureides in cowpea. Enzymes not directly involved with either ammonia or glutamine assimilation (purine synthesis, purine oxidation, and carbon metabolism of both bacteroids and plant cells) also showed transient changes in activity following interruption of N₂ supply. These data have been interpreted to indicate a far-reaching effect of the production of ammonia by bacteroids on a wide range of enzymes, possibly through control of protein turnover, rather than a highly specific effect of ammonia, or some product of its assimilation, on a few enzyme species.