tarwi

L. mutabilis is an annual plant. The stem is hollow and highly branched. The plant's height reaches from 0.5 to 2.8 metres (1+1⁄2 to 9 ft), depending on the environmental conditions and the genomic properties. Due to the high vegetative growth, species from northern South America are taller than those from the southern Andean region. L. mutabilis has a strong taproot reaching 3 metres (3 yd) length. Like all Leguminosae, secondary roots build nodules containing bacteria for nitrogen fixation. The leaves are palmate and have a typical appearance: one leaf is divided into five to twelve leaflets with an oval or lanceolate form. The form is typical for Faboideaes. The corolla reaches 1–2 cm (3⁄8–3⁄4 in) and contains five petals. Variation in coloration is high and reaches from white to purple. The white coloration is recessive to purple. The fruit is a 5–12 cm (2–5 in) long pod, depending on the amount of seed. One pod contains on average 2–3 seeds, but can have up to 9 seeds per pod. The thousand-seed weight is around 200 grams (7.1 oz). Its highly variable genome contains 2n = 48 chromosomes, which leads to significant differences in morphology. Several architectural types of L. mutabilis exist. The most common is the branching in V-form, which has the highest biomass production. The basal branching type has the positive feature that its infructescence is at the same level. …

The origin of L. mutabilis has been identified in the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In this area, the greatest genetic variability of this species was found. The plant has been domesticated for over 1,500 years because of its high protein content.

The bone-white seed contains more than 40% protein and 20% fat and has been used as a food by Andean people since ancient times, especially in soups, stews, salads and by itself mixed with boiled maize. Like other legumes, its protein is rich in the essential amino acid lysine. The distribution of essential fatty acids is about 28% linoleic acid (omega-6) and 2% linolenic acid (omega-3). It has a soft seed coat for easy cooking. It may not have been more widely used because of its bitter taste due to the alkaloid content. It contains unusually high amounts of sparteine, which make up nearly half of its alkaloid content. However, the alkaloids are water-soluble and can be removed by soaking the seeds in water for a few days, or via technological methods. QAs are heat-stable toxins; cooking alone does not remove the alkaloids. Like other species of lupin beans, chocho beans are expanding in use as a plant-based protein source in the world marketplace.

Lupine milk (made from the L. mutabilis seeds) contains 56% more protein than cow's milk. The milk is used to make cheese and yogurt.

Chemical composition. L. mutabilis contains 42% protein and 18% fat on average. The high fat content allows for commercial oil pressing. The protein digestibility and nutritional value are similar to those in soybeans.

The oil content ranges from 13 to 19% (w/w). …

Sowing In traditional farming practices, minimum tilling is done before sowing. 100–120 kg/ha (89–107 lb/acre) of unselected seeds is sown. Improved cultivation practices: It is recommended to apply 80 kg (180 lb) phosphorus and 60 kg (130 lb) of potassium as fertilization before sowing. The sowing of 90 kg (200 lb) selected seeds in a distance of 60–80 cm (24–31 in), either by hand or by seed drill, follows. Plants germinate fast due to the high-fat content in the seeds. Crop rotation aspects Early varieties of L. mutabilis, with a growing period of about 150 days, can be cultivated in rotation with potatoes and cereals. Nematode disease of potato can be controlled by alkaloids when cultivated after L. mutabilis. Harvest In traditional farming practices, harvest occurs when plants have reached full maturity and the water content of seeds is between 8–12%. From peasant plots average yield is about 500–1,000 kg (1,100–2,200 lb) per hectare under suitable conditions yield reaches up to 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) per hectare. Disease control Alkaloids can act as pesticides, but breeding goals aim to achieve a low alkaloid content. Therefore, other disease control methods must be applied. Since L. mutabilis is a low-input crop, disease control is mainly done by phytosanitary methods. Reducing soil-born saprophytes can be reached by removing a dry straw from the field. …