Lupins: A Remarkable Protein Crop Battling Anthracnose for a Greener Future

Summary

Lupins (Lupinus spp.) are protein-rich legumes, serving as a sustainable alternative to soybeans and valued for both human and animal nutrition. Besides their high-yield potential, lupins enhance soil fertility and provide habitat for wild pollinators, boosting agrobiodiversity. However, lupin cultivation faces challenges from anthracnose disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lupini. This presumed asexual pathogen consists of at least four clonal lineages, all originating from the Andes in South America. Lineage II has spread globally and drives the current anthracnose outbreak. Despite genetic uniformity, variations in morphology and virulence exist among and within lineages, likely due to a diverse transposable element (TE) landscape, mini-chromosome presence, and distinct effector repertoires. Infected seeds are the primary inoculum source and the main vehicle for global spread. Secondary inoculum in the form of conidia produced by necrotic lesions, becomes prevalent at flowering, causing rapid crop devastation. Resistance breeding has proven to be the most effective control strategy, with recently developed resistant varieties now available for the most widely cultivated lupin species. Combining resistance breeding with enhanced disease management and agronomic practices can support the expansion of lupins as a resilient protein crop, strengthening their role in sustainable agriculture.