Phomopsis leptostromiformis infection and phomopsin A content of lupin seed in Western Australia

Abstract

A survey of Phomopsis leptostromiformis infection of lupin seed in Western Australia was carried out in 1982 and 1983. Of the samples surveyed 39% were uninfected and 16.6% had >4% infection. These values differ significantly from a previous survey between 1976 and 1981 (49 and 8.4% respectively). There was a highly significant correlation (P <0.002) between the amount of discoloured seed and P. leptostromiformis infection. Results of toxicity tests for the mycotoxin phomopsin A, assessing hepatic injury in nursling rats, strongly implicate discoloured seeds as being the most toxic. Discoloured seed had more toxin in the seed hulls than in the kernal.