Homegrown protein: Trialling lupins for a UK breeding programme

这一创新项目将是该项目的关键第一步，该项目将为英国农民提供一种急需的有利可图的间歇作物替代方案，以取代OSR，并有助于减少对进口大豆的依赖。可耕种的农民迫切需要减少投入、减少疾病并获得更高利润的技术。羽扇豆类作为一种蛋白质含量极高的固氮间作作物，可以在全球范围内促进农业发展。然而，作为一个相对较新的驯化物种，需要一个密集的育种计划来优化品种以适应一系列环境。该项目将对英国的白羽扇豆(_L.albus_)进行评估，以确定具有对后续育种计划有用的特征的遗传物质，重点是开发更适合英国和温带条件的品种。本研究的核心创新来自于前人在遗传分析方面所做的工作，这将使新种质的引入和优良种质性状的快速恢复成为可能，尤其是低生物碱含量。野生羽扇豆类的生物碱含量很高，这使它们变得苦涩和难吃。为了保持作物中的低生物碱，目前的育种计划仅限于相对较窄的种质范围，这些种质都是单一来源的后代。因此，该物种驯化部分的大部分多样性以及其中蕴含的潜在有用特征都没有得到充分利用。现在，凭借我们对白羽扇豆遗传学的独特知识，这种多样性可以整合到一个专注于为英国和温带农业改良羽扇豆属的标记辅助育种计划中。该项目将进行广泛的白杨材料的初步田间试验，以评估和确定最有用的品系，用于随后的育种计划。早期项目将提高安全收获有限公司(申请公司，一家英国中小企业)的技术诀窍，利用私人投资进行大规模育种计划。因此，预计SHL和英国经济都将受益，使该项目对公司和公共资金来说都是物有所值。

This innovative project will provide the critical first step in a project that will provide UK farmers with a much-needed profitable break crop alternative to OSR and help to reduce dependence on imported soya. Arable farmers urgently need technology that reduces inputs, reduces disease and enables a better profit. As a nitrogen-fixing break crop with excellent protein content, lupins could enhance agriculture at a global scale. However, as a relatively newly domesticated species, an intensive breeding programme is needed to optimise varieties for a range of environments. This project will assess white lupins (_L. albus_) in the UK to identify genetic material with traits useful for a subsequent breeding programme focused on developing varieties better suited to UK and temperate conditions. The core innovation comes from previous work on genetic analysis of _L. albus_ that will enable introduction of novel germplasm and rapid recovery of the elite germplasm traits, most notably low alkaloid content. Wild lupins have high alkaloid content making them bitter and unpalatable. Current breeding programmes of _L. albus_ have been limited to a relatively narrow range of germplasm, all descended from a single source, in order to maintain low-alkaloids in the crop. As a result, much of the diversity of the domesticated portion of the species, and the potentially useful traits contained within, has been under-utilised. Now, with our unique knowledge of _L. albus_ genetics, this diversity can be integrated into a marker assisted breeding programme focused on improving lupins for UK and temperate agriculture. This project will conduct the initial field trials of a wide range of _L. albus_ material to assess and identify the most useful lines for the subsequent breeding programme. The early stage project will enhance the knowhow of Secure Harvests Ltd. (the applicant company, a UK SME), leveraging private investment in a large scale breeding programme. As such benefits to both SHL and the UK economy are expected, making this project excellent value for money for both the company and the public purse.