Seed coat permeability and its inheritance in a forage lupin (Lupinus hispanicus)
SummaryThe species Lupinus hispanicus, throught its use as self-seeding forage, can contribute to solve the problem of forage scarcity during the summer in the livestock farming of the central-west Iberian Peninsula. A feature of the highest importance in achieving self-seeding is the seed-coat permeability. An evaluation of this characteristic has been carried out in a Lupinus hispanicus collection from Salamanca (Spain), its inheritance, and the influence of daily temperature fluctuations on the ‘softening’ of the seeds. All the lines but one had impermeable seeds. It was established that the permeability of the seeds is controlled by the genotype of the mother-plant and the inheritance of this characteristic follows a simple Mendelian model, the permeability being recessive. It was also observed that seeds subjected to daily temperature fluctuations had an increased level of permeability.
Delve into the potential of wild populations of Lupinus hispanicus
8 Lupinus hispanicus Boiss. et Reut. is a Mediterranean wild species of lupin or lupine that grows 9 naturally in the Iberian Peninsula. This species can be an interesting alternative leguminous 10 crop adapted to marginal areas and is suitable for low-input cultivation. Thirty-one populations 11 were collected in northwestern Spain from a diverse range of altitudes (from 25 to 1063 m). To 12 know their potential to produce green mass for forage and/or grain for animal feed, populations 13 were evaluated under winter Mediterranean conditions in northwestern Spain. Twenty-one 14 traits related to growing cycle, biomass and seed yield and domestication were measured during 15 two years at two different locations. Based on morphological characteristics we classified all 16 the populations into the sub-species L. hispanicus subsp. bicolor (synonymous with L. 17 gredensis Gand.). This result helps clarifying the distribution of this sub-species in the Iberian 18 Peninsula. Performance of genotypes across environments was stable, since the interaction of 19 the genotypes with the environment was non- significant for most part of traits. Populations 20 showed phenotypical variability in their growing cycle and seed traits. Some accessions may 21 have potential for grain (LUP-0048 and LUP-0052) or forage (LUP-0048 and LUP-0188) 22 production and became an interesting alternative to other more input-dependent fodder crops 23 in areas with poor soils and low supplies. Improving crucial traits as alkaloid content and seed 24 permeability would be required before their utilization. Trials in each planting zone should be 25 performed in order to establish adequate crop density, planting date and ideal plant type. Useful 26 characteristics from Lupinus hispanicus accessions (i.e. yield stability, waterlogging and poor
On the fractionation of β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin
Abstract Existing methods for the preparation of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin are examined critically. It is proposed that the most satisfactory method for the preparation of the whey protein fraction from bovine milk is (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fractionation. A number of new gentle procedures for the fractionation of the whey proteins are compared with some existing methods. The distribution of total protein at various stages is determined by total Kjeldahl nitrogen and the kind of protein by starch-gel electrophoresis. The effect of variables, such as pH, salt concentration and temperature on the separation of α-lactalbumin and serum albumin from β-lactoglobulin is studied. Differences in the behavior ( e.g. solubility) of genetic variants of β-lactoglobulin are noted. The solubility of each of the major whey proteins, under similar conditions to those used in the fractionation, is compared with its solubility in the whey protein mixture. The understanding gained of factors important in the fractionation is used in recommending new procedures for α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin isolation.