MORPHOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTIVE VARIATION OF THREE Lupinus SPECIES IN A FIELD TRIAL

Abstract

Lupinus montanus Kunth (Lm), L. campestris Schltdl. & Cham. (Lc) and L. exaltatus Zucc. (Le) are Mexican species with high protein content and important ecological function. The analysis of agronomic characteristics will allow to define strategies for their domestication. A field trial was established for the three species with plants produced from seeds from different locations of the state of Puebla at a density of 10,000 plants ha^-1 with the objective of assessing differences between species and populations in survival and agronomic characteristics such as plant height, inflorescences, pods, seeds and biomass yield. Results showed a survival of 29, 54 and 61 % for Lm, Lc and Le, respectively. The species that presented the highest production of pods per plant (347) was Lc presented and Lm the lowest one (170). The biomass yield was 2.12 t ha^-1 for Lc, 2.08 t ha^-1 for Le, and 2.05 t ha^-1 for Lm. It is concluded that Lc and Le are the species with the best agronomic characteristics, which makes them promising for their use.