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LEGUME
PE RS P E C T IV E S
It’s wonderful to sail the Fabaceous Sea!
Legumes in the Mediterranean agricultures
The journal of the International Legume Society
Issue 10 • October 2015
IMPRESSUM
ISSN Publishing Director
2340-1559 (electronic issue) Diego Rubiales
CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
Quarterly publication Córdoba, Spain
January, April, July and October diego.rubiales@ias.csic.es
(additional issues possible)
Editor-in-Chief
Published by Carlota Vaz Patto
International Legume Society (ILS) Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier
Co-published by (Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain Oeiras, Portugal
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier cpatto@itqb.unl.pt
(Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Oeiras, Portugal Technical Editor
Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia Aleksandar Mikić
Office and subscriptions Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops
CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture Novi Sad, Serbia
International Legume Society aleksandar.mikic@nsseme.com
Apdo. 4084, 14080 Córdoba, Spain Front cover art
Phone: +34957499215 • Fax: +34957499252 Navigare trans Marī Fabaceārum mirabilis est!
diego.rubiales@ias.csic.es by Aleksandar Mikić
Assistant Editors
Mike Ambrose Ramakrishnan Nair
John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, Shanhua, Taiwan
Paolo Annicchiarico Pádraig O‟Kiely
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Teagasc, Grange, Ireland
Centre for Fodder Crops and Dairy Productions, Lodi, Italy
Dejan Pajić
Birte Boelt University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Philosophy, Novi Sad, Serbia
Aarhus University, Slagelse, Denmark
Ana María Planchuelo-Ravelo
Beat Boller National University of Córdoba, CREAN, Córdoba, Argentina
Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
Diego Rubiales
Ousmane Boukar CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kano, Nigeria
Christophe Salon
Judith Burstin Institut national de la recherche agronomique, Dijon, France
Institut national de la recherche agronomique, Dijon, France
Marta Santalla
Marina Carbonaro CSIC, Misión Biológica de Galicia, Pontevedra, Spain
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione, Rome, Italy
Petr Smýkal
Branko Ćupina Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany,
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Olomouc, Czech Republic
Vuk Đorđević Frederick L. Stoddard
Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Sciences,
Gérard Duc Helsinki, Finland
Institut national de la recherche agronomique, Dijon, France Wojciech Święcicki
Noel Ellis Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Genetics, Poznań, Poland
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Richard Thompson
Patancheru, India Institut national de la recherche agronomique, Dijon, France
Sara Fondevilla Rajeev Varshney
CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics,
Bernadette Julier Patancheru, India
Institut national de la recherche agronomique, Lusignan, France Carlota Vaz Patto
Branislav Kovačević Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier
University of Novi Sad, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Oeiras, Portugal
Novi Sad, Serbia Margarita Visnhyakova
Judith Lichtenzveig N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Industry,
Curtin University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Perth, Australia St. Petersburg, Russia
Kevin McPhee Ping Wan
North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA Beijing University of Agriculture, College of Plant Science and Technology,
Aleksandar Medović Beijing, China
Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia Tom Warkentin
Aleksandar Mikić University of Saskatchewan, Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon, Canada
Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia Christine Watson
Teresa Millán Scotland‟s Rural College, Aberdeen, UK
University of Córdoba, Departmet of Genetics, Córdoba,Spain Daniel Wipf
Fred Muehlbauer Institut national de la recherche agronomique / AgroSup /
USDA, ARS, Washington State University, Pullman, USA University of Bourgogne, Dijon, France
EDITORIAL CONTENTS
e are pleased to CARTE BLANCHE
W present this 10th
issue devoted to
the legumes in the
Mediterranean agriculture.
4 Diego Rubiales: Legumes in Mediterranean agriculture
RESEARCH
5 Eva Madrid, Mariem Bouhadida, F. Sara Dolar, Mohamed Kharrat, Chafika Houasli,
Josefa Rubio: Chickpea production in the Mediterranean Basin
Legumes are important
everywhere, but nowhere they are 8 Letice Gonçalves, Diego Rubiales, M. Carlota Vaz Patto: Grass pea prospective at the
Mediterranean Basin
most introduced in the diet and
culture than is Mediterranean 10 Marcelino Pérez de la Vega, Richard Fratini: Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)
countries. The current situation and 12 Paolo Annicchiarico, Imane Thami-Alami: White lupin improvement for countries of the
s
challenges and perspectives for a
range of legume crops in the area
Mediterranean basin
15 Paolo Annicchiarico: Alfalfa improvement in the Mediterranean Basin
are presented and critically 18 Svetlana Vujić, Branko Ćupina, Pero Erić, Đorđe Krstić: The role of sainfoin in
discussed by a number of authors Mediterranean region
from different countries. At the 20 Aleksandar Mikić: Around the world in two centuries or why French serradella
International Legume Society, we (Ornithopus sativus) should return to its Mediterranean homeland
hope that the information provided 22 Lucia Lioi, Angela Rosa Piergiovanni: Common bean cultivation in the Mediterranean
here will be useful to the readers Basin
and further cooperative research 25 Diego Rubiales: Pea in Mediterranean agriculture
and development on legume crops. 27 Aziza Zoghlami Khélil, Salah Benyoussef, Majid Mezni, Hakima Saïdi Missaoui,
The importance of legumes in Sana Hanchi, Monia Elayed, Fethi Gouhis, Aïssa Abdelguerfi, Meriem Laouar,
Mediterranean agriculture can be Panayiota Papastylianou, Dimitrios Bilalis, Harun Cicek, Serkan Ates, Muhammad Dost:
seen also from the fact two out the Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) in the Mediterranean Basin
10 projects granted by the FP7- 29 Branko Ćupina, Svetlana Vujić, Sanja Vasiljević, Aleksandar Mikić: Annual clovers in
ERANet ARIMNET (Coordination Mediterranean area
for Agricultural Research in the 31 Ángel M. Villegas-Fernández, Diego Rubiales: Trends and perspectives for faba bean
Mediterranean Area; http://www. production in the Mediterranean Basin
arimnet.net) in its first call dealt 34 Eva María Córdoba, Salvador Nadal, Clara Isabel González-Verdejo: Common vetch
with legumes. These were the now production in Mediterranean Basin
terminating MEDILEG (http:// 37 Aleksandar Mikić, Vojislav Mihailović: Several less-read articles from Viciapaedia - On
www.ias.csic.es/medileg/) and some neglected and wild vetches with benefits for the Mediterranean agricultures
REFORMA (http://reforma. 40 Raúl Domínguez-Perles, Valdemar Carnide, Guilhermina Marques, Isaura de Castro,
entecra.it) projects. Hope that these Manuela de Matos, Márcia Carvalho, Eduardo Rosa: Relevance, constraints and
perspectives of cowpea crops in the Mediterranean Basin
initiatives can follow up helping to
bridge along the Mediterranean JOURNALS
sides because a long term 43 Legume and Groat Crops
multinational and multidisciplinary
BOOKS
cooperation is needed for the
reinforcement of legume 44 Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Cool Season Grain Legumes - Marcelino Pérez de la
Vega, Ana María Torres, José Ignacio Cubero, Chittaranjan Kole (editors)
cultivations in the area.
Thanks to all the authors for 44 The Search for Wild Relatives of Cool Season Legumes - Gideon Ladizinsky, Shahal Abbo
their valuable contributions. Thanks EVENTS
to all that with their voluntary 45 Global Year of Pulses - 2016
efforts are making possible this 47 International Conference on Pulses, Rabat, Morocco, 13-15 April 2016
Legume Perspectives journal and
51 Second International Legume Society Conference, Tróia, Portugal, 12-14 October 2016
our growing Legume Society.
Diego Rubiales
Managing Editor of
Legume Perspectives Issue 10
Legume Perspectives Issue
Issue10
6 ••January
October2015
2015
3
Carte blanche
to…
Legumes in the Mediterranean
culture
L
egumes are crops with extraordinary historical importance in
the Mediterranean basin. They are protein-rich and integral
part of the Mediterranean diet, already used since prehistory.
Grown in rotation with cereals, they improve significantly soil
fertility and minimise the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers,
contributing to a sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture
in the region. This was already noted by ancient Greek and Roman
authors such as Theophrastus, Cato, Columella or Pliny.
Despite their importance, the production of food legumes is
decreasing in most of the Mediterranean farming systems. A major
...Diego cause for this is the low and irregular yield as a consequence of
insufficient breeding efforts. Additionally, the recent socio-economic and
Rubiales political context discouraged farmers to grow these crops. Increasing
importations is the general rule in the Mediterranean countries. In spite
of this regressive pattern, producers, manufactures and consumers are
demanding more food and feed legumes. Mediterranean consumers love
their legumes, being a major component of many traditional dishes and
an integral part of their culture. Therefore, is not that legumes are not
demanded, but that they cannot be produced in sufficient quantity at
the right price.
Returning legume crops to Mediterranean rotations can only
be achieved through an integrative approach leading to the adjustment
of cropping practises and breeding more adapted, attractive and
productive cultivars.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture,
Córdoba, Spain (diego.rubiales@ias.csic.es)
Legume
Legume Perspectives
Perspectives Issue
Issue 10
1 ••January
October2013
2015
4
RESEARCH
Chickpea production in Mediterranean Basin
by Eva MADRID1*, Mariem BOUHADIDA2, F. Sara DOLAR3, Mohamed KHARRAT2, Chafika HOUASLI4
and Josefa RUBIO5
Abstract: Chickpea has an especial functions in the traditional farming system in the last 30 years, it is remarkable that both
significance in the agriculture of the (Fig. 1). C. arietinum is divided into two main parameters are increasing in the world, but
Mediterranean Basin. Kabuli type is mainly cultivar groups for breeding purposes, “desi” decreasing in the Mediterranean (Fig. 2).
cultivated and essentially used for human (purple flower with smaller, angular and At the present time, Turkey is the leading
food. In this region, chickpea ranks first dark-colored seeds) and “kabuli” (white country growing 423,557 ha (64.5%) and its
between grain legumes with 656,373 ha flower with large and cream-colored seeds) production was estimated to be 506,000 t
cultivated and a production of 692,448 t, but types. The last one is mainly cultivated in the (73%). Other production areas are Syrian
the progression in the last 30 years is Mediterranean Basin and is essentially used Arab Republic (84,500 ha and 57,500 t),
decreasing. Nowadays, the countries for human food (homusbet-hina, falafel, tadjines, Morocco (57,019 ha and 25,003 t), Spain
dedicating more hectares to this crop are karentika, cocido, lablabi, ghraiba). (35,000 ha and 22,000 t), Algeria (31,000 ha
Turkey, followed by Syrian Arab Republic, Nowadays, chickpea is grown all over the and 29,000 t) and Tunisia (8,050 ha and
Morocco, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia. In five continents in around 50 countries, with 7,700t) (Fig. 3). Chickpea production has
Mediterranean Basin, chickpea is traditionally 90% of its cultivated area (around 13 106 ha) increased worldwide over the past 30 years
sowed in spring causing a low yielding. The in developing countries. India ranks first in from 6.1 106 t to around 13 106 t and from
introduction of winter sowing using varieties the world in respect of cultivated area 0.5 t to 0.7 t in the Mediterranean Basin (Fig.
resistant to Ascochyta blight has allowed (68.5%) followed by Pakistan (8.7%). In the 2) (3). This increase can be explained by (i)
significant increase in yield. In addition, Mediterranean Basin, in terms of cultivated the development of new high yielding
Fusarium wilt and drought are the main area chickpea ranks first among grain varieties tolerant/resistant to main diseases,
constraints in the Mediterranean Basin. legumes with 656,373 ha (4.8% of the global pests and abiotic stresses and (ii) a successful
Key words: chickpea, constraints, cultivated value), followed of lentil (Lens culinaris integrated crop management practices. The
area, production, yield Medik.), with 514,381 ha, and dry peas difference in yield between world and the
(Pisum sativum L.), with 214,242 ha (3). Mediterranean Basin (968 kg ha-1 and
Chickpea, together with soybean (Glycine max 1,431 kg ha-1, respectively) could be because
(L.) Merr.) and lentil in terms of production in some countries the crop is mainly growing
General aspect of chickpea (691,748 t, 682,700 t and 620,329 t, under irrigated conditions or the
respectively) are the most important grain introduction of winter sowing in some
crop legumes in this region (3). If the global and countries. In fact the countries with the
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the the Mediterranean Basin progression of both higher yield (Israel and Egypt) irrigate the
earliest grain legumes to be domesticated by cultivated areaand production is compared in crop (Fig. 3).
man in the Old World. The Mediterranean
origin of the crop imparts special significance
to chickpea in the agriculture of the
Mediterranean Basin, where it has multiple
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture,
Córdoba, Spain (madrid@mpipz.mpg.de)
2National Institute for Agricultural Research of
Tunisia, University of Carthage, Field Crop
Laboratory, Carthage, Tunisia
3Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture,
Department of Plant Protection, Ankara, Turkey
4INRA Morocco, Regional Center of Agricultural
Research, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Unit,
Settat, Morocco
5Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación
Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Figure 1. Kabuli chickpea in field
Ecológica, Área de Mejora y Biotecnología,
Córdoba, Spain
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
5
RESEARCH
One of the major limiting factor in the area Table 1. Grain yield, onset of flowering and lodging susceptibility of 10 elite selected lines and
affecting the yield is that chickpea is the control cultivar Multolupa in a moderately-favourable (Merchouch) and a highly-favourable
traditionally a spring crop (February - mid- (Larache) cropping site of Morocco; source: Thami-Alami, unpublished data
April) and, consequently, plants develop
poor biomass during their growing period.
This showing date is due to the susceptibility
of chickpea to blight (Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.)
Labrousse, a destructive foliar disease that
could cause total loss of the crop in the
winter sowing (December). Experimental
results suggest that shifting of chickpea
acreage from traditional spring to winter
season could give twice more yield (6).
Other important disease is Fusarium wilt
caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium
oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Matuo & K. Satô, and
widespread in almost all countries growing
this legume. Both diseases, together with
terminal drought and unfavorable
distribution of the rainfall, are the main
constraints affecting chickpea yields in the
Mediterranean Basin.
Turkey
Turkey has 15,620,000 ha land of field
crops in which food legumes with
800,000 ha share 5.2%. Chickpea is the
predominant crop among pulse in Turkey,
being the first major pulses in area and
production. It is cultivated over an area of
423,557 ha with production of 506,000 t (3),
Figure 2. Comparison of the chickpea area (millions ha, Mha) and production (millions tons,
accounting 44% of the food legumes
MTons) evolution in the Mediterranean Basin (down) and world (up)
production. According to the records of
2013, chickpea consumption per person is
reported to be 5.5 kg year-1 (7).
Chickpea is grown almost in all regions in
the country but the major chickpea
production areas are in Central Anatolia,
South East, Mediterranean and Aegean
regions. In recent years, Uşak, İçel, Konya,
Karaman and Antalya provinces are located
in the upper row in chickpea production
value (25,000 t). Over the period 2003 to
2013, the area under cultivation in Turkey
gradually decreased from 630,000 ha to
423,557 ha and also production decreased
about 100,000 t. Nevertheless, yield
increased by 26% (from 960 kg ha-1 to
1,210 kg ha-1) (7). Although Turkey is the
fifth biggest chickpea producer in the world,
the average yield of the crop is much lower
than other producer countries in the world
(Fig. 3). The main limiting factors for
chickpea production are the lack of
improved varieties for all ecological regions
and cultivars with high resistance level to
diseases, especially Ascochyta blight. There is
a need to increase the yield to make chickpea
Figure 3. Chickpea cultivated area, production and yield in the Mediterranean Basin countries
price competitive in the international market.
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
6
RESEARCH
Syrian Arab Republic Spain compete with other crops like wheat and its
domestic production, as well as with
Syrian Arab Republic is the second most Chickpea has been a traditional crop in imported chickpea. Algeria imports more
important country in terms of cultivated area Spain for centuries. Today, traditional than 200% of its production (66,000 t).
(84,500 ha) and production (57,500 t). The landraces, susceptible to blight and wilt, are
patterns of variation in both, area and still the most cultivated. Currently, it ranks Tunisia
production, are remarkably similar to the fourth in harvested area (36,830 ha, 9.72% in
countries in the Mediterranean Basin, with 2014) after other legumes like pea, vetches Food legumes in Tunisia represent only
large fluctuations between different years. (Vicia spp.) and bitter vetch (V. ervilia (L.) 5% of the harvested areas of field crops or
Although there has been a noticeable Willd.) (5). In the last 30 years, Spain has around 90,000 ha (1). Chickpea is the third
increase in area planted to chickpea, the suffered great fluctuation in both cultivated legume in terms of cultivated areas after faba
trend in increased production is less notice area and production, with around 64% each bean and pea. It is grown on about 8,050 ha
able due to the downward in yield (3). The occurrence of Ascochyta blight with a yield of 956 kg ha-1 and a production
(680 kg ha-1). With increasing pressure on coupled with imports of cheap chickpea of roughly 7,700 t (3). Until the early 1980s,
land in Syria, profitability of spring chickpea from Mexico adversely affected chickpea chickpea crop covered more than 35,000 ha,
is declining relative to other crops. cultivation in Spain. Fortunately in 2014 the mainly as a spring crop. In the last 10 years
cultivated area has increased to 12,100 ha, the area under cultivation has decreased for
Morocco explained partly by the European Union 78%. This tremendous decrease is due to
Common Agricultural Policy and the high several socio-economic and technical
Chickpea is the second most important constraints. Successive spring droughts
food legume crop in Morocco, after faba market prices for first-quality seeds.
Spain is the major producer (42.8% of the occurring in 1990s were also responsible for
bean (Vicia faba L.). The chickpea cultivated the decline in the spring chickpea area,
area during the past two decades is around total European production) and consumer of
chickpea in Europe (around 76,051 t), especially in semi-arid zones. The
67,854 ha and annual production is 37,883 t introduction of winter chickpea technologies
(2). In 1994, Morocco produced 70,000 t, therefore needs to import approximately
double than its chickpea production, in 2010 and new varieties resulted in improving grain
however, in 2013 the production has gone yield; however, those varieties were not
down to 25,000 t. This decline of around around 53,800 t, being the fifth country in
terms of world imports. extensively adopted due to their small seed
65% has been due to biotic and abiotic size and preference of the market for large
stresses, and low investment in production Seed size is a key quality determinant in the
Spanish market. In the Andalusia region seed. Furthermore, during the last seasons,
techniques (improved varieties, certified growing winter chickpea in humid and sub-
seeds, weed management, mechanization...). (southern Spain) the farmers prefer chickpea
„Blanco Lechoso” type with big seed humid regions was abandoned due to heavy
Most of the chickpea cultivated land is damage caused by root rot diseases. Actually,
located in the north and west regions of the (around 0.6 g) because it fetches three times
higher prices than other chickpea cultivars the winter variety „Beja1” is adopted by a
country which includes the provinces of large number of farmers in Tunisia and
Taza-Alhoucima-Taounate (27%), Meknes- (around 1.5 EUR kg-1 „Blanco Lechoso” and
0.50 EUR kg-1 median or small seeds type). contributed in the last decade in the increase
Tafilalet (16%), Fes-Boulemane (12%) and of the chickpea yields. Tunisian consumers
Gharb-Chrarda-Benihssen (24%). Nearly Today, the development of resistant lines to
both diseases (Fusarium and Ascochyta prefer the large spring-type seeds (around
80% of the total chickpea production comes 0.5 g). Therefore, the chickpea improvement
from these regions. blight) and big seeds size is the main
objective of chickpea breeding in Spain. program is now focusing on developing high
The chickpea breeding program at INRA yielding winter varieties with large seed size
Morocco aims to develop and release and better disease resistance.
varieties that are well adapted to different Algeria
agro-ecological areas, processing high yield The implementation of the program for
potential, resistant to Ascochyta blight and decreasing fallow areas and intensifying food
other diseases and pests prevalent in the legume production during 1983 to 1988 in References
target areas. Tolerance to drought and Algeria caused an increase in the cultivated (1) DGPA (2013) Direction Générale de la
making the new varieties suitable for area (more than 50,000 ha) (3, 4). Nowadays, Production Agricole, Ministère de l‟Agriculture,
mechanized harvesting are also other the area under cultivation of chickpea is Tunis
important objectives. Other traits related to around 31,000 ha, ranking the fifth most (2) DPVCTRF (2013) Direction de la Protection
seed quality, such as large size, cooking time important country in the Mediterranean des Végétauxet Contrôles Techniques et de la
Répression des Fraudes, Rabat
and high nutritional value, are also being Basin (Fig. 3). The main reason for decrease
(3) FAOSTAT (2014) Food and Agriculture
introduced in the breeding program. Since in area under cultivation is that it has to Organization of United Nations, Rome
1994, seven winter chickpea varieties were compete with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), (4) Labdi M (1990) Chickpea in Algeria. Options
released and registered by the breeding which, yield is about five times that of Mediterr 9:137-140
program. Those new high yielding varieties chickpea. Although the chickpea production (5) MAPA (2014) Ministerio de Agricultura,
are resistant to blight. However, seed suffered fluctuations in the last 30 years, it Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Madrid
increase and commercialization is still needed has been increasing since 2010, with 29,000 t (6) Singh KB, Reddy MV (1996) Improving
to make those varieties available to farmers. in 2013. During the last 30 years, yield chickpea yield by incorporating resistance to
ascochyta blight. Theor Appl Genet 92:509-515
increased from 262 kg ha-1 to 936 kg ha-1.
(7) TSI (2013) Turkish Statistical Institute, Ankara
As mentioned before, the yield is too low to
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
7
RESEARCH
Grass pea prospective at the Mediterranean Basin
by Letice GONÇALVES1, Diego RUBIALES2 and M. Carlota VAZ PATTO1*
Abstract: Although with a high potential for Grass pea is highly suitable for human Fortunately, significant germplasm
harsh environments, grass pea cultivation in consumption, being rich in polyunsaturated collections are preserved in a number of
the Mediterranean region is in regression. fatty acids. It is also interesting as functional Mediterranean genebanks (see Table 2 in 16)
Due to an increased knowledge food thanks to its antioxidant activity, higher and grass pea research activities are
accumulation on locally adapted grass pea than that of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), maintained in some of these countries. These
germplasm, with high agronomic potential lupin (Lupinus spp.) or soybean (Glycine max are focused mainly on germplasm genetic,
for modern low input/integrated production (L.) Merr.) seeds (11). Unfortunately grass agronomic and quality characterization (1, 4,
systems and the development of molecular pea suffers from a reputation of being toxic, 5, 6, 14), with some genetic resistance studies
tools to support breeding programs, this as its overconsumption, under certain and cross breeding schemes initiated (17, 18).
reality is slowly changing. With the present circumstances, has caused neurolathyrism, a In the absence of proper statistics on grass
work we reviewed grass pea actual neurotoxic disease related to its content on a pea cultivation or consumption and based on
importance and perspectives within non-protein amino acid, β-ODAP. However, the few references available, we tried to
Mediterranean countries. there is an agreement today that grass pea is elucidate the crop actual importance and
Key words: feed and food legume, grass harmless to humans and animals when perspectives in the Mediterranean region,
pea, landraces, Lathyrus sativus, Mediterranean consumed as part of a balanced diet (10). using four different countries as examples.
region Also, as a result of large breeding efforts a Mediterranean countries experienced in
number of cultivars with low β-ODAP common a severe decrease in grass pea
content are now available (9). cultivation during the last 50 years, and
Mediterranean accessions tend to have presently grass pea is mainly grown by small
Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is an annual white and large seeds, in contrast with the farmers, for own or local consumption, with
legume crop, originated in southwest and predominantly blue-flowered and small dark little or negligible trade. However, farmers of
central Asia, subsequently spreading into the seeds typical from Asia and Ethiopia. all these countries also share an appreciation
eastern Mediterranean (8). Today it is grown Preference for larger seeds in the for grass pea food products and an interest
in large areas of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Mediterranean area is common to other in the crop cultivation, provided that better
Africa, but its formerly frequent cultivation grain legumes such as lentil (Lens culinaris adapted cultivars are made available.
has drastically decreased in Mediterranean Medik.), chickpea and faba bean (Vicia faba In Portugal, present grass pea production
countries. At worldwide level, grass pea is L.), and is a product of human selection. is very small and mainly used for self
presently regarded as a promising crop for Mediterranean accessions tend also to have consumption, rather than for commercial
drought-prone and marginal areas, being higher yields, later phenology and lower β- purposes (15). However, there is an
superior in yield, protein content, nitrogen ODAP content (7). increasing interest on this crop, especially in
fixation and tolerance to drought and Regardless of a customary cultivation of the central mountainous regions of Serra do
salinity, when compared to other legume grass pea in Mediterranean countries and Sicó, where grass pea has been used for a
crops (19). high gastronomic appreciation by local long time as a traditional crop. Grass pea is
consumers, the sad fact is that today, and in also cultivated in the southern region of
this region, grass pea is a neglected crop, Algarve (Caldeirão Mountains) and in Serra
even in risk of genetic erosion (16). There de Sintra, near Lisbon, being all these areas
are no available registered cultivars in most characterized by limestone soils. As an
Mediterranean countries, what is common example, in Alvaiázere region (Serra de Sicó),
more or less to all Europe. For instances, the farmers integrate grass pea in crop rotations,
European Common List of Commercial and mainly alternating with cereals; in
Protected Varieties Catalogue does not intercropping systems with olive (Oliva
include a single grass pea cultivar, as clear europaea L.), chickpea or faba bean; or as sole
indication of the little attention paid to this crop for grain production. Based on the
species, in spite of its great potential value information collected locally, grass pea yield
for dryer areas. is around 1 t ha-1. Thanks to the active
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1Instituto
enrollment of local authorities in supporting
de Tecnologia Química e Biológica
António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de
and organizing grass pea gastronomic annual
Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal (cpatto@itqb.unl.pt) festivities (“Festival do chícharo”, “O
2CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, chícharo da Serra”), this crop has become
Córdoba, Spain
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
8
RESEARCH
progressively more well-known in the We may conclude that the highly resilient (9) Kumar S, Bejiga G, Ahmed S, Nakkoul H,
country, with an increasing number of diverse Mediterranean adapted grass pea Sarker A (2011) Genetic improvement of grass
growers and cultivated area, mainly as a germplasm, once neglected, may presently pea for low neurotoxin (β-ODAP) content. Food
Chem Toxicol 49:589-600
delicatessen market oriented production. play a crucial role on the immense
(10) Lambein F (2009) The lathyrus/lathyrism
Recent reports indicate that there are agricultural challenges faced by this region controversy. Grain Legum 54:4
individual farmers sowing up to 6 ha of grass and predicted based on the exponential (11) Pastor-Cavada E, Juan R, Pastor JE, Girón-
pea, what is quite impressive for the region increase on global demand for food. Calle J, Alaiz M, Vioque J (2009) Antioxidant
average farm size. No registered variety activity in Lathyrus species. Grain Legum 54:10-11
exists yet in Portugal, so farmers cultivate (12) Pena-Chocarro L, Zapata L (1999) History
traditional landraces selected over centuries and traditional cultivation of Lathyrus sativus L. and
of cultivation, but with reduced yields. References Lathyrus cicera L. in the Iberian Peninsula. Veget
Hist Archaeobot 8:49-52
Spain follows a similar trend. There are (1) Basaran U, Asci OO, Mut H, Acar Z, Ayan I
(13) Piergiovanni AR, Lupo F, Zaccardelli M
historic records of grass pea cultivation since (2011) Some quality traits and neurotoxin β-N-
(2011) Environmental effects on yield,
Pré-historic period, with seeds found in oxayl-L-α,β- diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP)
composition and technological seed traits of some
Cueva del Toro (Málaga), dated from contents of Lathyrus sp. cultivated in Turkey. Afric
Italian ecotypes of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.). J
J Biotechnol 10:4072-4080
Neolitic and in El Acequión (Albacete), from Sci Food Agric 91:122-129
(2) Basaran U, Acar Z (2013) Recent and
Bronze Age (12). Grass pea was frequently Historical status of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in
(14) Tavoletti S, Iommarini L, Mogliani L (2011)
cultivated until the sixties (55,000 ha in Agronomic, qualitative (β-ODAP) and molecular
Turkey. CCDN News 22:8-10
1950), but markedly decreased since then, variability in grasspea populations of the Marche
(3) Caminero-Saldaña C, Grajal-Martín I (2009)
region (central Italy). Food Chem Toxicol 49:601-
being today almost abandoned (15 ha in From a survival food of the poor to a festivity
606
2007) (4). It was used both for animal feed main dish: “titos” (grass pea, Lathyrus sativus) in La
(15) Vaz Patto MC (2009) Alvaiázere, Grass Pea
and human food. Presently this crop is still Gamonal and in Padilla de Abajo (Burgos, Spain).
Capital. A taste on Patrimony. Grain Legum
cultivated in Castilla-La-Mancha and Castilla- Grain Legum 54:40-41
54:38-39
(4) De la Rosa L, Marcos T (2009) Genetic
León regions, mainly in small areas and only (16) Vaz Patto MC, Rubiales D (2009)
resources at the CRF-INIA, Spain: collection,
in familiar agricultural systems, where is conservation, characterization and documentation
Identification and characterization of partial
mainly consumed in traditional dishes, being resistance to rust in a germplasm collection of
in Lathyrus sp. Grain Legum 54:20-21
“gachas” the most popular. Indeed, some Lathyrus sativus. Plant Breed 128:495-500
(5) Fernández-Aparicio M, Flores F, Rubiales D
(17) Vaz Patto MC, Rubiales D (2014) Lathyrus
traditional folk celebrations retain a grass (2012) Escape and true resistance to crenate
diversity: Available resources with relevance to
pea stew as the main dish, showing broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) in grass pea
crop improvement - L. sativus and L. cicera as case
its importance in the Spanish cultural (Lathyrus sativus L.) germplasm. Field Crop Res
studies. Ann Bot 113:895-908
heritage (3). 125:92-97
(18) Vaz Patto MC, Fernández-Aparicio M, Moral
(6) Gonçalves L, Vaz Patto MC, Carvalho R,
The situation is similar in Italy, where grass A, Rubiales D (2006) Characterization of
Canhoto J (2015) Lathyrus sativus L. Application of
pea was a crop typically used in a number of biotechnological and biochemistry techniques
resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) in a
traditional dishes, being the hay used for germplasm collection of Lathyrus sativus. Plant
toward plant breeding. Proceedings, XXXIX
animal feed (14). Presently, grass pea is still Breed 125:308-310
Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética, Braga,
(19) Vaz Patto MC, Skiba B, Pang ECK, Ochatt
cultivated, but only in small farms, mainly for Portugal, 25-27 May 2015
SJ, Lambein F, Rubiales D (2006) Lathyrus
home consumption (14). However, a (7) Hillocks RJ, Maruthi MN (2012) Grass pea
improvement for resistance against biotic and
renewed interest on this crop in growing, (Lathyrus sativus): Is there a case for further crop
abiotic stresses: from classical breeding to marker
justified by its high adaptability to organic improvement? Euphytica 186:647-654
assisted selection. Euphytica 147:133-147
(8) Kislev ME (1989) Origins of the cultivation of
farming and sustainable systems, used as
Lathyrus sativus and Lathyrus cicera (Fabaceae). Econ
alternative, in crop rotation, in areas Bot 43:262–270
overexploited by cereal cultivation and as a
source of protein for animal feeding (13).
Grass pea was highly cultivated in Turkey
in the past. However its cultivation has
decreased dramatically from the 1960s.
Presently, mainly due to the government
support to forage production, grass pea area
reached 35,000 ha (28,000 ha for forage and
7,000 ha for seed production) (2). Therefore
grass pea production is mainly used for feed
and rarely for human consumption (1).
There are presently three registered varieties
of grass pea in Turkey, two of them only
since 2013, and so until now almost all seed
cultivated was of a landrace type (2).
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
9
RESEARCH
Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)
by Marcelino PÉREZ DE LA VEGA* and Richard FRATINI
Abstract: Lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) have lentil occurred most likely simultaneously According to the available data from
been cultivated and consumed around the with that of the other in the Fertile Crescent FAOSTAT (unfortunately no data is
Mediterranean since their domestication and first domesticated crops as agriculture available for several Mediterranean
initial spread, and they are nowadays still a expanded around the Mediterranean Sea and countries), the current production and
traditional food all-around of the basin. The to other parts of the Old World. The consumption is rather heterogeneous (4).
total production over the past 50 years has expansion of the lentil crop was relatively The Mediterranean countries represent 13%
doubled to approximately 600,000 t with rapid; lentil archaeological remains exist in of the world lentil production with a mean
yield having nearly doubled. The main the most occidental part of the yield similar to the world average (Table 1).
factors still limiting lentil production Mediterranean basin, the Iberian Peninsula, The production and yield analysis during the
throughout of the Mediterranean Basin already since the early Neolithic. Remains of approximately 50 years covered by the
consist likely in the small-scale farming several crops, such as einkorn and emmer statistics manifests that while the area
practiced as well as the cultivation under wheat, barley, pea, grass pea (Lathyrus sativus harvested has increased by one third the
rainfed in harsh semi-arid regions. L.), lentil and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production and yield have doubled,
Key words: breeding, culture, comprising a typical Near East crop nonetheless, the limited lentil cropping area
domestication, production, stresses complex, have been dated by 14C to 7,540 ± expansion is most likely the result of a small
140 BP (5). scale and low-input farming practiced in
Thus, lentils have been a traditional food most of the Mediterranean countries. During
around the Mediterranean since the the last decade, Turkey has been the third
Lentil (Lens culinaris subs. culinaris Medik.) beginning of agriculture taking active part in world producer, behind of India and Canada,
was domesticated among the first set of the culinary culture. Numerous references to while Egypt and Croatia are second and third
crops, such as einkorn (Triticum monococcum lentils exist in the classical Hellenistic and in yield after New Zealand. Since lentils are
L.), emmer (T. turgidum subsp. dicoccon Roman periods and in the Middle Age on part of the traditional foods throughout of
(Schrank. (Thell.)), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lentil cropping and consumption (2). the Mediterranean basin, the relative low
and pea (Pisum sativum L.), during the Nowadays, lentil is still a traditional food production in many countries is
agriculture origin in the Fertile Crescent. around the Mediterranean, cooked in supplemented by large imports, mainly from
According to archaeological data, the different forms since each region and Canada and the USA but also from other
distribution of wild species and the existence location hold their own traditions, from the Mediterranean countries such as Turkey.
of remains of both wild and cultivated lentils traditional mujjadara, mudardara or mjadra in This country was the second world exporter
in the same region, the Fertile Crescent is the the Middle East to all of the European soups (212,596 t) subsequent to Canada in the year
most obvious candidate with regard to the and stews. For instance, in Spain they are 2011, although it also appeared in the same
domestication place. Available data point to part of an everyday main meal and are eaten, year as the first world importer with 309,561
the region of southern Turkey–northern as a soup or as a stew, at home or at work tones. Spain is an example of an importing
Syria as the most likely place of lentil dinners. After all, lentils are considered as the country to cover the internal consumption
domestication and where some populations easiest and friendliest to digest among all of demand. Lentils, as other dry legumes, are
of L. orientalis (Boiss.) Hand.-Mazz. were the dry seed legumes. Thus lentils are part of the traditional diet and widely
unconsciously subjected to automatic currently devoted to human consumption, consumed, yet lentil production in Spain,
selection leading up to L. culinaris arising as a with an almost negligible use dedicated to whilst being the largest lentil producer within
new crop. The expansion of the cultivated livestock feed (exceptionally straw and of the EU, only roughly covers one quarter
damaged seeds are directly used by farmers). of the national demand. However, it is
The main consumption entails dry seeds, difficult to establish each country‟s real food
although in some countries a minor part of supply needs given that statistics only reflect
the production is derived into the canned trade. For instance, no record in the
food industry. FAOSTAT statistics accounts for the
Lentils are mainly grown worldwide under production of lentils in Portugal,
rainfed systems, and the Mediterranean nevertheless this country appeared as a lentil
region is not an exception, although in exporter (3,537 t) in the year 2011.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Egypt they are mainly irrigated likewise
Universidad de León, Departamento de Biología a minor part of the surface in other countries
Molecular, Área de Genética, León, Spain is devoted to irrigated lentil cropping.
(m.perez.delavega@unileon.es)
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
10RESEARCH
Table 1. Lentil cropping area, production and yield of Mediterranean countries (five year allowing for the identification of the main
averages) together with basin Total/Average figures followed by World data for comparison (4) genes involved in the responses to the
different challenging and limiting stress
Area harvested (ha) Production (t) Yield (kg ha-1) factors. Knowledge of the genome of both
Country 1961-1965 2009-2013 1961-1965 2009-2013 1961-1965 2009-2013 the cultivated lentil and its wild relatives is
critical in order to accelerate the pace of
Algeria 12,854 3,544 4,622 3,872 370 1,078 breeding via marker-assisted selection, also
Croatia - 34 - 57 - 1,780 for the mining of useful genetic variation
Egypt 32,669 836 50,274 1,495 1,526 1,882 derived from the more exotic germplasm via
France 11,616 13,034 9,540 20,848 814 1,588 marker-assisted background selection or
introgression. Sequencing information will
Greece 15,602 2,327 8,850 2,990 576 1,286
thus add considerable resources to the
Israel 472 106 160 36 344 344 breeder‟s toolbox for lentil genetic
Italy 20,076 2,171 13,724 1,622 685 754 improvement, in view of the global climate
Lebanon 2,082 1,105 2,150 2,011 987 1,830 changes and an increasing human population
Morocco 24,600 47,111 12,000 32,413 483 682 growth with an ever rising demand for lentils
as part of their staple food.
Spain 46,284 35,484 25,599 23,633 616 657
Syria 79,356 126,696 63,563 109,498 787 872
Tunisia 2,525 2,609 524 1,374 275 503
Turkey 102,780 235,634 93,600 402,107 910 1,446 References
(1) Bett K, Ramsay L, Sharpe A, Cook D,
Total/average 350,916 470,690 284,606 601,956 698 1,131
Penmetsa RV, Verma N, Wong M, Chan C,
World 1,672,165 4,180,706 940,259 4,547,314 562 1,087 Vandenberg A, VanDeynze A, Coyne C, McGee
R, Main D, Doezel J, Edwards D, Kaur S, Agrawal
SK, Udupa S (2014) Lentil genome sequencing:
establishing a comprehensive platform for
Factors seriously affecting lentil production spp.), lygus bugs (Lygus spp.) and the molecular breeding. Abstract Book, 7th
International Conference on Legume Genetics
and yield in the Mediterranean comprise cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel). Seed
and Genomics, Saskatoon, Canada, 7-11 July 2014,
biotic as well as abiotic stresses. In view of insect species constitute yet another major 19
the fact that most of the lentil production is pest problem causing great seed loss: Bruchus (2) Cubero JI, Pérez de la Vega M, Fratini R
attained in the Mediterranean basin under ervi Frölich and B. lentis Frölich with (2009) Origin, phylogeny, domestication and
rainfed conditions, drought is probably the Callosobruchus chinensis L. and C. maculatus spread. In: Erskine W, Muehlbauer FJ, Sarker A,
most common abiotic stress; in particular Fabricius (6). Little progress in breeding for Sharma B (eds) The Lentil: Botany, Production
drought during the flowering up to the seed insect resistance has so far been achieved in and Uses. CABI, Wallingford, 13-33
filling periods. In elevated areas, such as the comparison with breeding for diseases, (3) El-Bouhssini M, Sarker A, Erskine W, Joubi A
(2008) First sources of resistance to Sitona weevil
central part of the Iberian or of the nowadays the situation remains similar. No
(Sitona crinitus Herbst) in wild Lens species. Genet
Anatolian Peninsulas, another major threat sources of resistance to Sitona were detected Resour Crop Evol 55:1-4
consists of frost injury, winter frost in the in ICARDA materials which only showed (4) FAOSTAT (2013) FAOSTAT, Food and
case of early sowing alongside spring frost effectiveness against the adult insect whilst Agriculture Organization of United Nations,
for late sowing. In relation to biotic stresses, not to larvae (6). Nonetheless, resistance to Rome, http://faostat3.fao.org
Ascochyta blight is probably the most S. crinitus Herbst has been described in wild (5) Pérez de la Vega M, Fratini R, Muehlbauer FJ
common disease; nevertheless, the weedy materials (3). In addition, viruses constitute (2011) Lentil. In: Pérez de la Vega M, Torres AM,
root parasite broomrape (Orobanche crenata also a source of yield reduction, although in Cubero JI, Kole C (eds) Genetics, Genomics and
Breeding of Cool Season Grain Legumes. Science
Forssk.) is also a considerable limiting factor general the information regarding these
Publishers, CRC Press, Enfield, 98-150
to lentil production, almost preventing infectious agents which limit crop harvests is (6) Stevenson PC, Dhillon MK, Sharma HC, El-
growth and development of lentil plants in less abundant within of the literature. Bouhssini M (2007) Insect pest of lentil and their
heavily infected broomrape areas. The accumulating information obtained management. In: Yadav SS, McNeil D, Stevenson
Moreover, lentils are damaged by many types from “omic” data together with that PC (eds) Lentil. An Ancient Crop for Modern
of insects together with other pests. Among retrieved from the genome sequencing Times. Springer, Dordrecht, 331-348
insects, the major field pests consist of project in development (1) will clearly speed
aphids (Aphis craccivora C. L. Koch, up the application of the new technologies to
Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris), leaf weevil (Sitona complement the classical lentil breeding
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
11RESEARCH
White lupin improvement for countries of the
Mediterranean Basin
by Paolo ANNICCHIARICO1* and Imane THAMI-ALAMI2
Abstract: There is raising interest in white cultivation in this region is modest according Genetic improvement
lupin for feed and food, but modest yields to available statistics (mainly from FAO),
and narrow adaptation that arise from the extending over about 6500 ha in Spain, White lupin breeding has been very
paucity of breeding efforts jeopardize the 5000 ha in France, 4000 ha in Italy and modest in Europe and elsewhere. It got
expansion of lupin cultivation. Recent Morocco, nearly 3000 ha in Egypt, and less impulse by research work and germplasm
selection programs started in Italy and than 1000 ha elsewhere. development performed at INRA of
Morocco using segregating material There is raising interest in white lupin grain Lusignan (France), which improved the crop
developed in France have showed progress for feed and food. As a feed, its high protein yield and climatic adaptation to temperate
for specific environments. Wider and more content (36% - 44%) makes it the most regions through varieties with greater cold
focused exploitation of landrace genetic valuable alternative to imported soybean tolerance and novel plant architectures (7).
resources is a primary avenue for improving (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in Mediterranean- Breeding programs in Mediterranean
the crop yields and adaptation to climate regions, where soybean cropping is countries are present in France at Jouffray-
Mediterranean environments, with proper hindered by water required throughout its Drillaud, Italy at CREA, and a few other
support from low-cost molecular breeding spring-summer cycle. Lupin can replace countries such as Spain and Morocco. White
tools under development. Grain quality completely the soybean meal even in diets lupin genetic resources are limited to the
traits, such as increased γ-conglutin or oil for high-producing lactating cows (11). It is primary gene pool and include essentially
content, may become important breeding an excellent ingredient for vegetarian food, landrace germplasm, because of effective
targets for specific crop uses. owing to a combination of nutritional, genetic barriers to interspecific hybridization
Key words: adaptation, breeding gain, technological and sensory characteristics (as and the limited distribution of var. graecus (6).
drought tolerance, grain quality, landrace, highlighted by European projects such as The main environmental factor that can
Lupinus albus HealthyProFood, Lupicarp, HealthyLupin, constrain lupin cultivation is its poor
PlantsProFood, and LikeMeat). There is adaptation to soils that are even just
growing evidence that lupin-based diets can moderately calcareous, i.e., those whose
contribute to prevent and treat a number of soluble fraction of calcium carbonate
diseases, including type-2 diabetes mellitus according to Drouineau‟s method exceeds
Current and perspective 1% (11). Material displaying moderate
(T2DM), hypertension, cardio-vascular
cultivation diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Finally, tolerance to calcareous soil has been located
White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was lupin grain contains a moderate amount (10- within landrace germplasm from Egypt (8)
seemingly domesticated in Ancient Greece 15%) of oil featuring a particularly high and Italy (2). Raising yields by autumn
from the locally-occurring wild type var. ω3/ω6 ratio (5). Compared with narrow- sowing in cold-prone regions requires
graecus (Boiss. & Spruner) Gladst. (6). It was leafed lupin (L. angustifolius L.), which is improved winter-hardiness, whose
important in Ancient Rome, being a staple mainly grown in Australia and some regions contributing traits are well-defined (late
food for the Roman Army that conquered of northern Europe, white lupin tends to be flowering via greater vernalization
western Europe. Its grain, after boiling higher yielding in different south-European requirement; intrinsic tolerance; large
and alkaloid removal through prolonged environments (1), and has higher protein and seedling root, associated with large seed) (7).
soaking in water, is still consumed as oil contents (11). Compared with other cool- The multi-environment evaluation of a
a traditional snack in several countries of season feed grain legumes such as pea (Pisum global collection of landrace germplasm has
the Mediterranean basin. However, lupin sativum L.) or faba bean (Vicia faba L.), white provided indications on most useful country
lupin showed higher protein yield per unit gene pools for breeding programs as a
area (although not higher grain yield) (1), and function of the target climatic adaptation (4).
has the advantage of being tolerant to However, drought tolerance variation and
broomrape (Orobanche spp.). associated mechanisms have been poorly
investigated. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1Council
gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc.) is
for Agricultural Research and Economics
(CREA), Centre for Fodder Crops and Dairy
considered the main abiotic stress globally
Productions, Lodi, Italy (7), but seems to be less threatening in
(paolo.annicchiarico@entecra.it) Mediterranean regions.
2Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique,
Rabat, Morocco
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
12RESEARCH
Grain yield has undoubtedly been the main Table 1. Grain yield, onset of flowering and lodging susceptibility of 10 elite selected lines and
breeding target. Breeding progress has been the control cultivar Multolupa in a moderately-favourable (Merchouch) and a highly-favourable
manifest (although still insufficient for (Larache) cropping site of Morocco; source: Thami-Alami, unpublished data
widespread cultivation) in France, where
lupin is not a traditional crop, particularly by Grain yield (t ha-1) Flowering Susceptibility
means of innovative plant architectures Line Merchouch Larache Mean (dd from Jan. 1) to lodginga
(semi-dwarf and/or semi-determinate types)
MO40 5.00 8.35 6.68 99 M
and increased winter hardiness (11). Smaller
selection programs that started recently in MO93 5.49 7.83 6.66 96 HH
Italy and Morocco using segregating material
20 5.83 7.32 6.57 100 L
developed in France have showed progress
for specific environments relative to MO92 5.83 6.94 6.38 100 HH
reference cultivars, such as Multitalia in Italy, 21 5.70 6.65 6.17 106 M
or Multolupa in Morocco (where this cultivar
was introduced and multiplied for about 30 MO41 5.66 6.45 6.05 99 L
years). In Morocco, some elite breeding lines MO65 5.87 6.24 6.05 97 HH
clearly out-yielded Multilupa in a highly-
favourable cropping environment (where 17 5.50 6.39 5.95 105 M
their greater tolerance to lodging proved MO45 5.46 6.41 5.93 96 L
important), while showing little progress in a
less favourable site (Table 1). Less favourable 3 5.39 6.37 5.88 102 L
cropping conditions arose from a Multolupa 5.51 5.09 5.30 93 HH
combination of late autumn sowing and
LSD (P < 0.05) 0.81 2.47 1.16 2 -
lower rainfall amount, which impacted
negatively on breeding lines indiscriminately a L = low (< 10%), M = medium (10% - 30%), H = high (30% - 50%), HH = very high (> 50%)
later-flowering than Multolupa (Table 1).
In Italy, yield gains over Multitalia
across autumn-sown, climatically-contrasting
environments proved possible only through
new lines specifically adapted either to mild-
winter Mediterranean areas (such as Sardinia)
or cold-prone regions (such as the Po Valley)
(Fig. 1). However, wide climatic adaptation
would be preferable for new varieties in Italy,
given the large extent of areas with
intermediate climatic characteristics and the
limited market size of the crop.
Breeding perspectives
The outstanding value showed by specific
sets of landraces over commercial varieties in
terms of grain yield in different agro-climatic
regions or tolerance to moderate lime soil
(Table 2) suggests that the primary strategy
for future breeding success is represented by
wider and more focused exploitation of the
available genetic resources, whose potential
is largely untapped. The evaluation of global
germplasm collections, such as that in (3),
for tolerance to specific abiotic and biotic
stresses is commendable. The future
development of low-cost, high-throughput Figure 1. Nominal grain yield of seven lines selected for wide or specific climatic adaptation
genotyping techniques such as Genotyping- and two control varieties of white lupin as a function of the environment score on the first
by-Sequencing (under study at CREA), genotype × environment interaction principal component (PC) in an Additive Main effects and
combined with data from selection or Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) analysis; environments are combinations of two Italian
germplasm evaluation experiments, could locations (Lodi, Po Valley, subcontinental climate; Sanluri, Sardinia, Mediterranean climate) by
allow for implementing genomic models for three cropping years (2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008)
selecting advanced lines within a reference
breeding population or for locating useful
Legume Perspectives Issue 10 • October 2015
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