IntroductionEnvironmental effects on yield and seed composition of Lupinus angustifolius cvs. are often larger than differences between varieties (Jansen et al. 2005, Jürgens et al. 2007). The ambient temperature during the growing season is one of the most important environmental factors. As a result of global warming, higher temperatures will also be relevant in Central Europe in the future. High temperatures may limit the productivity of lupins in both Mediterranean and in cool temperate climate (Dracup et al. 1998) by reducing seed weight especially in narrow-leafed lupins (Reader et al. 1997). Besides this, temperature stress at flowering reduces the number of seed-containing pods of Lupinus angustifolius cvs. (Downes and Gladstones 1984a, ) and also vegetative growth and individual seed weight is the lowest at high temperatures. Conditions before flowering determine the growth of the inflorescence, but conditions after flowering affect seed yield (Downes and Gladstones 1984b). On the other hand, branching is most pronounced at lower temperatures (Downes and Gladstones 1984c). In contrast to L. angustifolius, seed yield for Lupinus albus cvs. is the highest at high temperature and long day conditions (Pakendorf and Joubert 1982). The effect of temperature and daylight on the growth and development of different lupin species and cultivars is well-documented. However, no results are reported up to now on the effect of temperature on the quality of lupin seeds.Not only the content of the main components (protein, non starch polysaccharides) but also the content of antinutritive substances in seeds of lupins and their content in relation to abiotic stress factors are important in human and animal nutrition. Although varieties of narrow-leafed lupins with a drastically reduced alkaloid level have been bred and released, it has to be taken into consideration, that agrochemical factors, such as fertilizers influence the alkaloid content in lupin seeds, e.g. the AbstractThree experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of high temperatures during seed filling on the alkaloid content of narrow-leaf lupin cultivars. Six cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius were grown in field experiments under different weather conditions in four subsequent years. A high content of alkaloids was found in the seeds harvested in 2006, in which the growing season was characterized by high ambient temperatures during seed filling. A second experiment was performed in the green house at different temperatures (10, 20 and 30°C) using one cultivar in 2006. This experiment confirmed the results of the field experiments as higher temperatures resulted in a higher alkaloid content of the seeds. In a third temperature stress experiment, three cultivars were grown under long day conditions at day/night temperatures of 30°C/ 16°C and 20°C/16°C in growth chambers in comparison with an outdoor control at mean temperatures of 15.5°C. Like in the other experiments, the seed alkaloid content increased with rising temperature. From these results...

Since the beginning of breeding narrow-leafed lupins [Lupinus angustifolius L. (Fabaceae)] with a low alkaloid content, susceptibility to several aphid species has increased. Therefore, the probing and feeding behavior of Aphis fabae Scopoli, Aphis craccivora Koch, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and the well-adapted Macrosiphum albifrons Essig (all Hemiptera: Aphididae) was studied over 12 h on narrow-leafed lupin genotypes containing varying amounts and compositions of alkaloids. We used the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique to obtain information on the influence of alkaloid content and composition on the susceptibility to various aphid species. Results indicated that the total time of probing of A. fabae, A. craccivora, A. pisum, and M. persicae increased with a reduced alkaloid content, whereas the alkaloid content had no influence on M. albifrons. Almost all of the individuals (>93%) conducted sieve element phases on the highly susceptible genotype Bo083521AR (low alkaloid content). A reduced occurrence of phloem phases was observed during the 12-h recording on the alkaloid-rich cultivar Azuro, especially for A. pisum (37.5%) and A. fabae (55.0%). Furthermore, aphids feeding on genotypes with low alkaloid content had in most cases significantly longer sieve element phases than when feeding on resistant genotypes (Kalya: low alkaloid content, yet resistant; Azuro: high alkaloid content, resistant), whereas M. albifrons showed the longest phloem phase on the alkaloid-rich cultivar Azuro. As most significant differences were found in phloem-related parameters, it is likely that the most important plant factors influencing aphid probing and feeding behavior are localized in the sieve elements. The aphids' feeding behavior on the cultivar Kalya, with a low alkaloid content but reduced susceptibility, indicates that not only the total alkaloid content influences the feeding behavior but additional plant factors have an impact.

Grain legumes are regarded as highly valuable protein source for human and animal nutrition. Legume protein quality is mainly limited by the amino acids (AAs) tryptophan and sulphur AA. Organic farming in particular requires high seed protein quality for livestock feeding, as chemically produced AAs must not be feeded. Breeding attempts to increase contents of limiting AA are required. In the present survey, the AA content of 107 cultivars of important European grain legume species (Lupinus angustifolius, Lupinus luteus, Pisum sativum and Vicia faba) was analysed. AA contents were related to the requirements of growing pigs and human nutrition. Feed quality could be enhanced by choice of high quality varieties according to ideal protein concepts. For example for sulphur, AA feed quality for pigs could be increased by up to 22% (e.g. for L. angustifolius: ideal protein = 100, sample mean = 59.7, sample maximum = 72.7). Regarding livestock nutrition, ranges of limiting AA never reached the qualities reported for soybean seeds. However, an inclusion of high quality legume lines would reduce the need for other high quality components in feed compositions.

Arabinoxylans are considered as the major limiting factor for use of rye in animal feeding. In this study, four selected winter rye cultivars were grown at nine locations and tested for arabinoxylans including total (TAX), soluble (SAX) and insoluble fractions (IAX), extract viscosity, falling numbers and crude protein contents. Amounts of TAX ranged on average between 89 and 103 g/kg wholemeal flour, and the extract viscosity between 2.6 and 5.1 cSt. The extract viscosity was significantly correlated with falling numbers and all three arabinoxylan fractions. Arabinoxylan contents and extract viscosity were influenced by the rye genotype. The anthocyanin free hybrid cultivar Helltop combined reduced TAX, SAX and IAX levels with low extract viscosity and high crude protein contents and seems to be more suitable for use in animal feeding than the other three cultivars tested in this respect.

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