Variation in morphology, plant habit, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids within a Lotus germplasm collection

Lotus species collected from a range of geographical locations were evaluated for relationships between plant habit and size, leaf proanthocyanidin (PA) content, flower colour, stem colour, leaf colour, trichome density, and geographic origin. No relationships occurred between leaf PA concentration and morphological trait or collection site. Trichome coverage was moderately correlated with plant size (r = -0.70). Several accessions, e.g., L. angustissimus L. and L. castellanis Boiss. & Rent., consisted of small, trichome-covered plants distinct from the large, glabrous plants typical of the model species L. corniculatus var. japonicus ecotype Gifu B129. These two morphology types were also represented among the tan mutants of Gifu B129. Due to the importance of trichomes and PA in plant defence, PA composition was compared between L. angustissimus and tan] (both representing the small trichome-covered phenotype) and ecotype Gifu B129 and tan2 (both representing the large, glabrous phenotype). Both the tan] and tan2 mutants accumulated substantial amounts of leaf PA similar in size to the small oligomers recovered from leaves of L. angustissimus. PA polymers were undetectable in Gifu B 129 leaves, while floral PA extracts of this ecotype included a much larger PA polymer. Flavonoid composition in leaves of tan] and L. angustissimus was complex, and differed from the simple profile in Gifu B129 leaves.