NUTRITIVE QUALITY OF THE ALKALOID-POOR WASHINGTON LUPIN (LUPINUS-POLYPHYLLUS LINDL VAR SF TA) AS A POTENTIAL PROTEIN CROP

An alkaloid-poor line of Washington lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl v ar SF/TA) was developed in an experiment started in 1982. The nutritiv e quality (alkaloid content, protein and amino acids, fat and fatty ac ids, macro- and micronutrients, fibre, sugars) yields, and seed qualit y of this line were studied. The results show that the total alkaloid content was low and varied in different seeds from 226 mug g-1 to 366 mug g-1 of dry matter. The main alkaloid was lupanine, but 16 other al kaloids (including sparteine and gramine) were also present. The var S F/TA cannot yet be used for human nutrition without processing althoug h it would be a valuable protein crop. The results confirm that seeds which look different also vary in chemical composition.