Genotype and Environmental Effects on Seed Protein, Fat and Quinolizidine Alkaloids of Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet)

Abstract

Legumes represent a sustainable alternative for the production of nutritious foods, contributing to agroecosystem resilience, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. Nonetheless, the productivity and nutritional quality of legumes are strongly influenced by environmental factors. These environmental conditions, together with crop management practices, explain a large proportion of the variability observed in chemical composition, highlighting the importance of genotype × environment interactions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of contrasting environments on the protein, fat, and quinolizidine alkaloid contents of Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) seeds. Six genotypes of different origins and alkaloid contents were studied. The genotypes were evaluated across five contrasting field and greenhouse environments using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Chemical analyses of the legume grain were carried out in the Nutrition and Quality laboratory at INIAP’s Santa Catalina Experimental Station (INIAP-EESC). The results of the study indicate that the protein content was affected primarily by the environment, followed by the genotype × environment interaction and, to a lesser extent, by genotype. Fat content was similarly influenced by both genotype and environmental conditions, whereas total alkaloid content was predominantly controlled by genotype, which explained approximately 90.7% of the observed variation. Protein content ranged from 49.9 to 56.8 g 100 g−1 DW across environments, while fat content varied between 14.0 and 18.3 g 100 g−1 DW. Among the evaluated genotypes, AndxPro1 exhibited the highest average protein content (54.96 g 100 g−1 DW), whereas LmPro17 combined the highest fat content (19.78 g 100 g−1 DW) with the lowest total alkaloid concentration (0.13 g 100 g−1 DW). Protein content showed high sensitivity to environmental conditions, whereas alkaloid accumulation exhibited strong genetic control and comparatively limited environmental influence. These findings suggest the importance of conducting evaluations of the different varieties of L. mutabilis in different environments to support breeding programs aimed at improving seed quality.