Evaluation of narrow-leafed lupin breeding material for drought resistance and fine seed coat in Bryansk region

The cultivation of grain legumes is an important reserve for increase of high protein feeds production. The narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is one of the most cultivated species in agriculture. The modern forage varieties are early ripening, tolerate to anthracnose and have high seed protein content and low alkaloid content. The trends in breeding of universal and forage narrow-leafed lupin varieties are drought resistance increase and reduction of seed coat proportion. In early stages of growth and development the estimation of seed ability to grow in sucrose solution under high osmotic pressure is one of the oblique methods for drought resistance determination. These solutions simulate the conditions of physiological soil dryness. Under laboratory conditions 23 narrow-leafed lupin varieties and breeding lines developed in the All-Russian Lupin Research Institute were tested. The variety Vityaz was used as reference; it is listed in the State List of the Russian Federation. The var. Belorozovy 144 and some breeding lines made the first group for high drought resistance level (81–94%). The BL 39-20 has high grain and green mass yield. Eleven varieties and breeding lines included the reference made the second group with the moderate drought resistance level. Lupin has the thick seed coat compared to other legumes; it increases the fiber content and results in digestibility reduction. If the proportion of coat weight and seed weight will be lower, it is possible to hope for the highest nutritive value of grain forage. Among tested varieties and breeding lines the zoned var. Belorozovy 144 has the lowest seed coat content (18.9%). The seed coat content of the breeding lines Uzkolistny 37-12, CmW 62-17 etc. is about 20.5-20.8% among new breeding lines. The breeding line CmW 62-17 stood put for large seeds, this index made 157 g. It overcame the reference by 27 g or by 20.7%.