The effects of nitrogen fixation, soil nitrate, and defoliation on the growth, alkaloids, and nitrogen levels of Lupinus succulentus (Fabaceae).

We examined the effects of nitrogen nutrition and defoliation on the alkaloids, nitrogen levels, and growth of Lupinus succulentus by growing plants under five nitrogen/defoliation treatments: 1) fertilization with a high-nitrate nutrient solution, 2) fertilization with a low-nitrate solution, 3) inoculation with N-fixing bacteria but without available soil nitrogen, 4) high-nitrate solution plus periodic partial defoliation, and 5) low-nitrate plus defoliation. In the absence of defoliation, plants from both the N-fixing and high-N treatments had higher concentrations of alkaloids and nitrogen, and higher growth rates than the low-N plants. Periodic defoliation had little effect on the high-N plants, but defoliated N-fixing plants were severely stunted and had lower alkaloid and nitrogen levels. The experimental treatments also affected the relative concentrations of the alkaloids. Our results indicate that 1) alkaloid composition and concentration in L. succulentus are determined by both nitrogen availability and developmental state, 2) plants relying solely on N-fixation respond quite differently to defoliation than those with adequate soil nitrogen, and 3) the food value of the plant tissue can be affected by an interaction between the effects of defoliation and nitrogen status.