Pleistocene diversification of unifoliolate-leaved Lupinus (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) in Florida.

The importance and prevalence of recent ice-age and post-glacial speciation and species diversification during the Pleistocene across many organismal groups and physiographic settings are well established. However, the extent to which Pleistocene diversification can be attributed to climatic oscillations and their effects on distribution ranges and population structure remains debatable. In this study, we use morphologic, geographic and genetic (RADseq) data to document Pleistocene speciation and intra-specific diversification of the unifoliolate-leaved clade of Florida Lupinus, a small group of species largely restricted to inland and coastal sand ridges across the Florida peninsula and panhandle. Phylogenetic and demographic analyses alongside morphological and geographic evidence suggest that recent speciation and intra-specific divergence within this clade were driven by a combination of non-adaptive allopatric divergence caused by edaphic niche conservatism and opportunities presented by the emergence of new post-glacial sand ridge habitats. These results highlight the central importance of even modest geographic isolation and short periods of allopatric divergence following range expansion in the emergence of new taxa and add to the growing evidence that Pleistocene climatic oscillations may contribute to rapid diversification in a myriad of physiographic settings. Furthermore, our results shed new light on long-standing taxonomic debate surrounding the number of species in the Florida unifoliate Lupinus clade providing support for recognition of five species and a set of intra-specific variants. The important conservation implications for the narrowly restricted, highly endangered species Lupinus aridorum, which we show to be genetically distinct from its sister species Lupinus westianus, are discussed.

The LaCLE35 peptide modifies rootlet density and length in cluster roots of white lupin.

White lupin (lupinus albus L.) forms special bottlebrush-like root structures called cluster roots (CR) when phosphorus is low, to remobilise sparingly soluble phosphates in the soil. The molecular mechanisms that control the CR formation remain unknown. Root development in other plants is regulated by CLE  (CLAVATA3/ EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION (ESR)-RELATED) peptides, which provide more precise control mechanisms than common phytohormones. This makes these peptides interesting candidates to be involved in CR formation, where fine tuning to environmental factors is required. In this study we present an analysis of CLE peptides in white lupin. The peptides LaCLE35 (RGVHy PSGANPLHN) and LaCLE55 (RRVHy PSCHy PDPLHN) reduced root growth and altered CR in hydroponically cultured white lupins. We demonstrate that rootlet density and rootlet length were locally, but not systemically, impaired by exogenously applied CLE35. The peptide was identified in the xylem sap. The inhibitory effect of CLE35 on root growth was attributed to arrested cell elongation in root tips. Taken together, CLE peptides affect both rootlet density and rootlet length, which are two critical factors for CR formation, and may be involved in fine tuning this peculiar root structure that is present in a few crops and many Proteaceae species, under low phosphorus availability.

Arsenic stress triggers active exudation of arsenic-phytochelatin complexes from Lupinus albus roots.

Arsenic contamination of soils threatens the health of millions globally through accumulation in crops. While plants detoxify arsenic via phytochelatin (PC) complexation and efflux of arsenite from roots, arsenite efflux mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, white lupin (Lupinus albus) was grown in semi-hydroponics and exudation of glutathione (GSH) derivatives and PCs in response to arsenic was scrutinised using LC-MS/MS. Inhibiting synthesis of PC precursor GSH with L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or ABC transporters with vanadate drastically reduced (>22%) GSH-derivative and PC2 exudation, but not PC3 exudation. This was accompanied by arsenic hypersensitivity in plants treated with BSO and moderate sensitivity with vanadate treatment. Investigating arsenic-phytochelatin (As-PC) complexation revealed two distinct As-PC complexes, As bound to GSH and PC2 (GS-As-PC2) and As bound to PC3 (As-PC3), in exudates of As-treated lupin. Vanadate inhibited As-PC exudation, while BSO inhibited both the synthesis and exudation of As-PC complexes. These results demonstrate a role of GSH-derivatives and PC exudation in lupin arsenic tolerance and reveal As-PC exudation as a new potential mechanism contributing to active arsenic efflux in plants. Overall, this study uncovers insight into rhizosphere arsenic detoxification with potential to help mitigate pollution and reduce arsenic accumulation in crops.

Proteome reorganization and amino acid metabolism during germination and seedling establishment in Lupinus albus.

During germination plants rely entirely on their seed storage compounds to provide energy and precursors for the synthesis of macromolecular structures until the seedling has emerged from the soil and photosynthesis can be established. Lupin seeds use proteins as their major storage compounds, accounting for up to 40% of the seed dry weight. Lupins are therefore a valuable complement to soy as a source of plant protein for human and animal nutrition. The aim of this study was to elucidate how storage protein metabolism is coordinated with other metabolic processes to meet the requirements of the growing seedling. In a quantitative approach, we analyzed seedling growth, as well as alterations in biomass composition, the proteome, and metabolite profiles during germination and seedling establishment in Lupinus albus. The reallocation of nitrogen resources from seed storage proteins to functional seed proteins was mapped based on a manually curated functional protein annotation database. Although classified as a protein crop, Lupinus albus does not use amino acids as a primary substrate for energy metabolism during germination. However, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism may be integrated at the level of malate synthase to combine stored carbon from lipids and proteins into gluconeogenesis.

Screening of Diverse Lupinus spp. Highlights New Resistances to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a serious, and sometimes devastating, disease of lupin (Lupinus spp.). Two hundred and thirty-six lupin accessions from across 12 Lupinus species were screened against the prevalent S. sclerotiorum isolate MBRS-1 (pathotype 76). L. angustifolius accession 21655 and L. albus var. albus accession 20589 showed immune and 'near-immune' responses, respectively. Thirteen accessions of L. angustifolius, three accessions each of L. albus and L. albus var. albus, and a single accession each of L. albus var. graecus, L. mutabilis, L. palaestinus and L. pilosus (totalling ~4%) showed a highly resistant (HR) response. A further 19 accessions of L. angustifolius, two accessions each of L. albus and L. pilosus, and a single accession of L. mutabilis (totalling ~10%) showed a resistant (R) response. The reactions of 16 (15 L. angustifolius, one L. digitatus) of these 236 accessions were also compared with their reactions to a different isolate, WW-3 (pathotype 10). Against this isolate, five L. angustifolius accessions showed a HR response and four showed a R response, and the L. digitatus accession showed a moderate resistance (MR) response. Overall, isolate WW-3 caused significantly (P<0.05) smaller lesions than MBRS-1 across tested accessions in common. In addition, 328 plants in a 'wild' naturalized field population of L. cosentini were screened in situ in the field against isolate MBRS-1. Five (~1.5%) of the 328 plants of wild lupin showed an immune response, 63 (~19%) showed a HR response, and 146 (~45%) showed a R response. We believe this is the first examination of diverse Lupinus spp. germplasm responses to a prevalent pathotype of S. sclerotiorum. Lupin genotypes exhibiting high level resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot identified in this study can now be used as parental lines for crosses in lupin breeding programs and/or directly as improved cultivars to reduce the adverse impact of this disease on lupin crops.

Effective, Consistent, and Rapid Noncontact Application Methods for Seedling Basal Stem Infection by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, an economically devastating soilborne fungal pathogen known to cause disease across a wide range of plants, produces long-term inoculum called sclerotia that can germinate either carpogenically by ascospores infecting aboveground plant parts or myceliogenically to infect stem base and roots. Typically, for research purposes, S. sclerotiorum diseases are initiated by direct contact methods, using S. sclerotiorum mycelium agar plugs wrapped around the stem or sclerotia placed directly beneath root mass. However, reproducible noncontact methods leading to basal stem infection are not currently available. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop effective noncontact protocols that consistently generate basal plant stem infection from S. sclerotiorum in the soil. Using three host plant species (canola, lupin, and lettuce), we determined two methods that reliably produced basal stem infection. The first method, where mycelial agar plugs were positioned just below the soil surface at a distance of 5 mm from each seedling, led to 100% infection in all plants. The second method used pathogen-infested soil by mixing the soil with dry inoculum in the form of a powder prepared from mycelium-colonized organic substrates. Four substrates consistently produced 100% seedling infection at 4 days after inoculation (DAI): wheat bran, wheat grain, red rice, and hulled millet. In contrast, chia, canary, sesame, and ryegrass seed substrates resulted in less than 50% seedling infection at 10 DAI, and infection levels did not progress further. The two soil inoculation methods outlined in this study will enhance future research on the progression of S. sclerotiorum diseases, with the potential to screen disease-resistant host genotypes to basal S. sclerotiorum infection and, in particular, to test the effectiveness of soil applications of fungicides or biocontrol agents against S. sclerotiorum basal infection.

Quantitation of Lupinus spp. Quinolizidine Alkaloids by qNMR and Accelerated Debittering with a Resin-Based Protocol.

Quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) are toxic secondary metabolites of the Lupinus species, the presence of which limits the expansion of lupin beans consumption, despite their high protein content. Evaluation of the level of alkaloids in edible Lupinus species is crucial from a food safety point of view. However, quantitation of QAs is complicated by the fact that not all important alkaloids used for quantitation are commercially available. In this context, we developed a method for the simultaneous quantitation of eight major lupin alkaloids using quantitative NMR spectroscopy (qNMR). Quantitation and analysis were performed in 15 different seed extracts of 11 Lupinus spp. some of which belonged to the same species, with different geographical origins and time of harvest, as well as in all aerial parts of L. pilosus. The mature seeds of L. pilosus were found to be a uniquely rich source of multiflorine. Additionally, we developed a protocol using adsorption or ionic resins for easy, fast, and efficient debittering of the lupine seeds. The protocol was applied to L. albus, leading to a decrease of the time required for alkaloids removal as well as water consumption and to a method for QA isolation from the debittering wastewater.

Auxin triggers pectin modification during rootlet emergence in white lupin.

Emergence of secondary roots through parental tissue is a highly controlled developmental process. Although the model plant Arabidopsis has been useful to uncover the predominant role of auxin in this process, its simple root structure is not representative of how emergence takes place in most plants, which display more complex root anatomy. White lupin is a legume crop producing structures called cluster roots, where closely spaced rootlets emerge synchronously. Rootlet primordia push their way through several cortical cell layers while maintaining the parent root integrity, reflecting more generally the lateral root emergence process in most multilayered species. In this study, we showed that lupin rootlet emergence is associated with an upregulation of cell wall pectin modifying and degrading genes under the active control of auxin. Among them, we identified LaPG3, a polygalacturonase gene typically expressed in cells surrounding the rootlet primordium and we showed that its downregulation delays emergence. Immunolabeling of pectin epitopes and their quantification uncovered a gradual pectin demethylesterification in the emergence zone, which was further enhanced by auxin treatment, revealing a direct hormonal control of cell wall properties. We also report rhamnogalacturonan-I modifications affecting cortical cells that undergo separation as a consequence of primordium outgrowth. In conclusion, we describe a model of how external tissues in front of rootlet primordia display cell wall modifications to allow for the passage of newly formed rootlets.

Differential patterns of within- and between-population genetically based trait variation in Lupinus angustifolius.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Within-population genetic and phenotypic variation play a key role in the development of adaptive responses to environmental change. Between-population variation is also an essential element in assessing the evolutionary potential of species in response to changes in environmental conditions. In this context, common garden experiments are a useful tool to separate the genetic and environmental components of phenotypic variation. We aimed to assess within- and between-population phenotypic variation of Lupinus angustifolius L. in terms of its evolutionary potential to adapt to ongoing climate change. METHODS: We evaluated populations' phenotypic variation of foliar, phenological and reproductive traits with a common garden experiment. Patterns of functional trait variation were assessed with (1) mixed model analyses and coefficients of variation (CVs) with confidence intervals, (2) principal component analyses (PCAs) and (3) correlations between pairs of traits. Analyses were performed at the population level (four populations) and at the latitude level (grouping pairs of populations located in two latitudinal ranges). KEY RESULTS: Phenotypic variation had a significant genetic component associated with a latitudinal pattern. (1) Mixed models found lower specific leaf area, advanced flowering phenology and lower seed production of heavier seeds in southern populations, whereas CV analyses showed lower within-latitude variation especially in phenological and reproductive traits in southern populations. (2) PCAs showed a clearer differentiation of phenotypic variation between latitudes than between populations. (3) Correlation analyses showed a greater number of significant correlations between traits in southern populations (25 vs. 13). CONCLUSIONS: Between-population phenotypic variation was determined by contrasting temperature and drought at different latitude and elevation. Southern populations had differential trait values compatible with adaptations to high temperatures and drought. Moreover, they had lower within-population variation and a greater number of trait correlations probably as a result of these limiting conditions, making them more vulnerable to climate change.

Source-Supported Suspect Screening (4S) of Phytotoxins in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments: A Field Study of Lupinus angustifolius L. (Blue Lupin).

Phytotoxins (PTs) are bioactive secondary metabolites produced by plants. More recently, they have been recognized as important aquatic micropollutants. Despite that, only a few PTs have been detected and reported in terrestrial and aquatic environments, while their source and leaching pathways remain largely unclear. Herein, we established a novel approach named source-supported suspect screening (4S) to discover PTs in different environments, investigate their environmental occurrences, identify their sources, and initiate discussions on their leaching mechanisms. The 4S-approach was demonstrated on a five-month Lupinus angustifolius L. (L. angustifolius) crop field experiment, where plant, topsoil, drainage water, and surface water were sampled and analyzed. As a result, 72 PTs (flavonoids and alkaloids) were identified at high confidence, with 10 PTs fully confirmed. Fifty-three PTs detected in soil or water were linked to L. angustifolius, among which 26 PTs were coherently detected in all three environmental compartments. The occurrence and abundance of PTs in terrestrial soil and aquatic environments were influenced by the plant growth stage and precipitation. Soil served as an intermedium when PTs leached from L. angustifolius to the drainage water, while the degree of retardation and eventual occurrence in the aquatic environment depended on both PTs and soil physico-chemical properties.

Lupin, a Unique Legume That Is Nodulated by Multiple Microsymbionts: The Role of Horizontal Gene Transfer.

Lupin is a high-protein legume crop that grows in a wide range of edaphoclimatic conditions where other crops are not viable. Its unique seed nutrient profile can promote health benefits, and it has been proposed as a phytoremediation plant. Most rhizobia nodulating Lupinus species belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium, comprising strains that are phylogenetically related to B. cytisi, B. hipponenese, B. rifense, B. iriomotense/B. stylosanthis, B. diazoefficiens, B. japonicum, B. canariense/B. lupini, and B. retamae/B. valentinum. Lupins are also nodulated by fast-growing bacteria within the genera Microvirga, Ochrobactrum, Devosia, Phyllobacterium, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, and Neorhizobium. Phylogenetic analyses of the nod and nif genes, involved in microbial colonization and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, respectively, suggest that fast-growing lupin-nodulating bacteria have acquired their symbiotic genes from rhizobial genera other than Bradyrhizobium. Horizontal transfer represents a key mechanism allowing lupin to form symbioses with bacteria that were previously considered as non-symbiotic or unable to nodulate lupin, which might favor lupin's adaptation to specific habitats. The characterization of yet-unstudied Lupinus species, including microsymbiont whole genome analyses, will most likely expand and modify the current lupin microsymbiont taxonomy, and provide additional knowledge that might help to further increase lupin's adaptability to marginal soils and climates.

Lupin as a Source of Bioactive Antioxidant Compounds for Food Products.

Four species of lupin (white lupin, yellow lupin, blue lupin and Andean lupin) are widely cropped thanks to the excellent nutritional composition of their seeds: high protein content (28-48 g/100 g); good lipid content (4.6-13.5 g/100 g, but up to 20.0 g/100 g in Andean lupin), especially unsaturated triacylglycerols; and richness in antioxidant compounds like carotenoids, tocols and phenolics. Particularly relevant is the amount of free phenolics, highly bioaccessible in the small intestine. However, the typical bitter and toxic alkaloids must be eliminated before lupin consumption, hindering its diffusion and affecting its nutritional value. This review summarises the results of recent research in lupin composition for the above-mentioned three classes of antioxidant compounds, both in non-debittered and debittered seeds. Additionally, the influence of technological processes to further increase their nutritional value as well as the effects of food manufacturing on antioxidant content were scrutinised. Lupin has been demonstrated to be an outstanding raw material source, superior to most crops and suitable for manufacturing foods with good antioxidant and nutritional properties. The bioaccessibility of lupin antioxidants after digestion of ready-to-eat products still emerges as a dearth in current research.

Development of an HPLC-MS/MS Method for the Determination of Alkaloids in Lupins.

Lupin alkaloids (LAs) represent a class of toxic secondary metabolites in plants, in particular in Lupinus spp.; they are produced as a defense mechanism due to their strong bitter taste and are very dangerous for human and animals. In this work, a sensitive and reliable high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analytical method for the identification and quantification of thirteen lupin alkaloids was developed and validated according to FDA guidelines. Efficient extraction and clean-up steps, carried out by solid-phase extraction, were finely tuned on the basis of the characteristics of the analytes and lupin samples, providing good selectivity with minimized matrix interference. The effectiveness of the method was proven by the satisfactory recovery values obtained for most of the analytes and a matrix effect ≤23% for all tested levels. In addition, a sensitive and reliable determination of the target compounds was obtained; LOQs were between 1 and 25 µg Kg-1, i.e., below the requested maximum levels (<200 mg Kg-1). The method was applied to evaluate the LAs profile in different batches of raw L. albus L. samples, varying in size and across farming treatments.

Phytochelatin and coumarin enrichment in root exudates of arsenic-treated white lupin.

Soil contamination with toxic metalloids, such as arsenic, can represent a substantial human health and environmental risk. Some plants are thought to tolerate soil toxicity using root exudation, however, the nature of this response to arsenic remains largely unknown. Here, white lupin plants were exposed to arsenic in a semi-hydroponic system and their exudates were profiled using untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Arsenic concentrations up to 1 ppm were tolerated and led to the accumulation of 12.9 µg As g-1 dry weight (DW) and 411 µg As g-1 DW in above-ground and belowground tissues, respectively. From 193 exuded metabolites, 34 were significantly differentially abundant due to 1 ppm arsenic, including depletion of glutathione disulphide and enrichment of phytochelatins and coumarins. Significant enrichment of phytochelatins in exudates of arsenic-treated plants was further confirmed using exudate sampling with strict root exclusion. The chemical tolerance toolkit in white lupin included nutrient acquisition metabolites as well as phytochelatins, the major intracellular metal-binding detoxification oligopeptides which have not been previously reported as having an extracellular role. These findings highlight the value of untargeted metabolite profiling approaches to reveal the unexpected and inform strategies to mitigate anthropogenic pollution in soils around the world.

The Bradyrhizobium Sp. LmicA16 Type VI Secretion System Is Required for Efficient Nodulation of Lupinus Spp.

Many bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium are capable of inducing nodules in legumes. In this work, the importance of a type VI secretion system (T6SS) in a symbiotic strain of the genus Bradyrhizobium is described. T6SS of Bradyrhizobium sp. LmicA16 (A16) is necessary for efficient nodulation with Lupinus micranthus and Lupinus angustifolius. A mutant in the gene vgrG, coding for a component of the T6SS nanostructure, induced less nodules and smaller plants than the wild-type (wt) strain and was less competitive when co-inoculated with the wt strain. A16 T6SS genes are organized in a 26-kb DNA region in two divergent gene clusters of nine genes each. One of these genes codes for a protein (Tsb1) of unknown function but containing a methyltransferase domain. A tsb1 mutant showed an intermediate symbiotic phenotype regarding vgrG mutant and higher mucoidity than the wt strain in free-living conditions. T6SS promoter fusions to the lacZ reporter indicate expression in nodules but not in free-living cells grown in different media and conditions. The analysis of nodule structure revealed that the level of nodule colonization was significantly reduced in the mutants with respect to the wt strain.

GPETAFLR, a peptide from Lupinus angustifolius L. prevents inflammation in microglial cells and confers neuroprotection in brain.

OBJECTIVES: Neuroinflammation is a complex inflammatory process in the central nervous system (CNS) where microglia may play a critical role. GPETAFLR is a peptide isolated from Lupinus angustifolius L. protein hydrolysates with functional activity in mononuclear phagocytes. However, it is unknown whether GPETAFLR has neuroprotective effects. METHODS: We analysed the potential anti-neuroinflammatory activity of GPETAFLR by using two different models of neuroinflammation: BV-2 microglial cells and mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. RESULTS: GPETAFLR hampered LPS-induced upregulation of pro-inflammatory and M1 marker genes in BV-2 cells. This effect was accompanied by an unchanged expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 gene and by an increased expression of M2 marker genes. GPETAFLR also increased the transcriptional activity of M2 marker genes, while the microglia population remained unchanged in number and M1/M2 status in brain of mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Furthermore, GPETAFLR counteracted HFD-induced downregulation of IL-10 and upregulation of pro-inflammatory markers in the mouse brain, both at gene and protein levels. DISCUSSION: This is the first report describing that a peptide from plant origin robustly restrained the pro-inflammatory activation of microglial cells in cultures and in brain. Our data suggest that GPETAFLR might be instrumental in maintaining CNS homeostasis by inhibiting neuroinflammation.

Global Identification of White Lupin lncRNAs Reveals Their Role in Cluster Roots under Phosphorus Deficiency.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency heterogeneously affected plant nutritional status and physiological performance, ultimately leading to a severe yield reduction. A few putative long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) responding to P-starvation in the model crops Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa have been characterized. White lupin (Lupinus albus) is of prime importance, and is a legume with increasing agronomic value as a protein crop as it exhibits extreme tolerance to nutrient deficiency, particularly P deficiency. Despite its adapted nature to P deficiency, nothing is known about low P-induced lncRNAs in white lupin roots. To address this issue, we identified 39,840 mRNA and 2028 lncRNAs in the eight developmental stages of white lupin root (S0-S7 and lateral root, LR) grown under P deficiency. From these 2028 lncRNAs, 1564 were intergenic and 464 natural antisense intergenic transcript (NAT) lncRNAs. We further predicted six potential targets of miRNAs with twelve lncRNAs, which may regulate P-deficiency-related processes. Moreover, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed seven modules that were correlated with the expression pattern of lncRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed 606 GO terms and 27 different pathways including signal transduction, energy synthesis, detoxification, and Pi transport. In addition, we screened 13 putative lncRNAs that showed a distinct expression pattern in each root, indicating their role in the P deficiency regulatory network. Therefore, white lupin may be a reference legume to characterize P-deficiency-responsive novel lncRNAs, which would highlight the role of lncRNAs in the regulation of plant responses to P deficiency.

Quinolizidine-Based Variations and Antifungal Activity of Eight Lupinus Species Grown under Greenhouse Conditions.

Fusarium oxysporum is an aggressive phytopathogen that affects various plant species, resulting in extensive local and global economic losses. Therefore, the search for competent alternatives is a constant pursuit. Quinolizidine alkaloids (QA) are naturally occurring compounds with diverse biological activities. The structural diversity of quinolizidines is mainly contributed by species of the family Fabaceae, particularly the genus Lupinus. This quinolizidine-based chemo diversity can be explored to find antifungals and even mixtures to address concomitant effects on F. oxysporum. Thus, the antifungal activity of quinolizidine-rich extracts (QREs) from the leaves of eight greenhouse-propagated Lupinus species was evaluated to outline promising QA mixtures against F. oxysporum. Thirteen main compounds were identified and quantified using an external standard. Quantitative analysis revealed different contents per quinolizidine depending on the Lupinus plant, ranging from 0.003 to 32.8 mg/g fresh leaves. Bioautography showed that all extracts were active at the maximum concentration (5 µg/µL). They also exhibited >50% mycelium growth inhibition. All QREs were fungistatic except for the fungicidal QRE of L. polyphyllus Lindl. Angustifoline, matrine, 13α-hydroxylupanine, and 17-oxolupanine were ranked to act jointly against the phytopathogen. Our findings constitute reference information to better understand the antifungal activity of naturally afforded QA mixtures from these globally important plants.

Composition and Antifungal Activity of the Alkaloidal Fraction of Lupinus mirabilis Leaves: A Biochemometrics-Based Exploration.

Lupinus plants are well-recognized due to their significant alkaloid content, which has made them the subject of several studies. However, the lack of chemical and biological information on the Colombian Lupinus species remains a fact. Therefore, the alkaloidal fractions from the leaves of L. mirabilis obtained by conventional solvent and ultrasound-assisted extraction (CSE and UAE, respectively) at different time frames were analyzed. Sparteine (2) was the main component in all cases; however, its relative abundance showed large variability, ranging from 64.7% to 80.6%. Minor constituents were also affected by the extraction conditions. In general, prolonged times gave a higher proportion of alkaloids under CSE, while only a slight decrease was observed under UAE. Both the method and extraction time appeared to equally affect the ratios of particular alkaloids, leading to variations in their effect on the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum. Holistic analysis through multiple-covariate statistical methods as an approach to integrating chemical and bioactivity datasets allowed inferring the compounds most likely responsible for the changes in mycelial growth inhibition. 13α-Hydroxylupanine (12) might represent a promising compound to be included in further studies against this phytopathogen.

Lupin (Lupinus albus L.) Seeds: Balancing the Good and the Bad and Addressing Future Challenges.

Lupinus albus L. (lupine) is a legume whose grain/seed has gained increasing interest. Its recognized nutritional properties, namely a high content of protein, dietary fiber and its low fat content, make lupine a suitable alternative not only for animal protein, but also as a substitute for more processed and less balanced flours from a nutritional point of view, used in the preparation of bread, cakes and cookies, among others. In addition, its nutritional and bioactive compounds have potential benefits for human health in the prevention and treatment of some diseases. However, the existence of some anti-nutritional compounds and contaminants reveal some concern, requiring effective methods for their detection and eventual removal. This review intends to address the potential of lupine (L. albus) in food and human health and to balance the pros and cons. Nutritional and anti-nutritional components of L. albus seeds and possible contaminants of lupine seeds are examined. The potential health benefits of lupine (seeds), including energy metabolism, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, glucose and insulin metabolism, bower function and anticonvulsant action, are discussed based on scientific evidence (both clinical trials and studies performed with animal models).