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RIRDC Completed Projects in 1999-2000 & Research in Progress as at June 2000

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3.7 PASTURE SEEDS RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
PROJECT No	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION

Export and Import Replacement Opportunities

IPB-1A	Evaluation of lucerne varieties for seed yield and strategies to enhance seed productivity	Dr Ross Downes	(02) 6255 1461	Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd
SAR-25A	Determine international standards for disease testing of lucerne seed	Dr Kathy Ophel-Kellar	(08) 8303 9368	SARDI

Availability of Technical and Economic Information 3

DAV-169A

Practical guidelines for sub clover seed production in south eastern Australia

Ms Angela Avery

(02) 60304500

Department of Natural Resources

Improve Production Efficiency

CSE-86A	Improved pollination of seed lucerne	Dr Denis Anderson	(02) 6246 4148	CSIRO Entomology
DAN-163A	Development of new alternative legumes and appropriate weed control technology	Mr Graeme Sandral	(02) 69381 999	NSW Department of Agriculture
DAV-144A	Improved seed production: "Towards 1.5 tonnes"	Ms. Angela Avery	(02) 6030 4500	Department of Natural Resources & Environment
DEB-1A	Evaluating and managing lucerne seed wasp in lucerne seed crops	Mr James De Barro	(08) 8755 3133	De Barro Agricultural Consulting
US-85A	Development of an integrated control strategy for "lucerne yellows" disease in lucerne	Dr Geoff Gurr	(02) 6260 5551	Orange Agricultural College The University of Sydney

Export and Import Replacement Opportunities

Project Title Evaluation of lucerne varieties for seed yield and strategies to enhance seed productivity

RIRDC Project No.: IPB-1A

Start Date: 1/07/98

Finish Date: 30/09/01

Researcher: Dr Ross Downes

Organisation: Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd

Phone: (02) 62551461

Fax: (02) 62784676

Email: ipb@interact.net.au

Objectives
· This project will identify the Australian and overseas varieties of lucerne with the highest seed potential. Genetic and environmental factors related to low seed production will also be identified. Breeders will be advised of attributes which positively affect yield potential.

Current Progress Field studies on commercial farms are evaluating effect of environmental and genetic factors on seed yield. Yield of irrigated crops varied from 350 to 1100 kg/ha in 1999. Varietal yields were modified by soil, location and management.
Sampling within varieties in 1999 indicated considerable variation in seed production per plant with some plants producing no seed. Within varieties 25% of plants produced more than 50% of the seed, and the poorer 50% of plants produced only 20% of the seed. The frequency of poor seed yielding plants was greater in varieties with low seed yield.
During the 2000 season, observation and sampling concentrated on identifying reasons for variation in seed yield among plants within fields. Particular attention was paid to numbers and activity of bees in relation to ‘tripping’ of flowers, pod set and seed production. Samples were taken for detailed study.
Seed was harvested from high and low seed yielding plants in 1999 to determine the inheritance of seed production. Seed was sown in nurseries from which samples were taken in 2000 for subsequent analysis.
Findings have been discussed with participating seed producers, to encourage evaluation of different management practices, and with breeders, to assist in selection for seed yield in breeding programs.

Project Title Determine international standards for disease testing of lucerne seed

RIRDC Project No.: SAR-25A

Start Date: 15/08/99

Finish Date: 15/08/00

Researcher: Dr. Kathy Ophel-Keller

Organisation: South Australian Research and Development Institute
Field Crops Pathology Unit
Waite Campus
GPO Box 397
URRBRAE SA 5001

Phone: (08) 8303 9368

Fax: (08) 8303 9393

Email: ophelkeller.kathy@saugov.sa.gov.au

Objectives
· To determine international standards for disease testing of lucerne seed for bacterial wilt and Verticillium wilt.

Current Progress The Australian export lucerne seed industry requires a rapid, reliable and sensitive test for the detection of bacterial wilt in lucerne seed. There is no internationally standardised test available. The most common diagnostic tests are based on culturing the bacterium on selective media; however, the bacterium is slow-growing and difficult to culture. An immunoassay (ELISA) was developed to detect Clavibacter michiganense subsp. insidiosus, the causal agent of bacterial wilt in lucerne (Medicago sativa) (SAR-10A). Although no naturally infected seed could be sourced during the development of this assay, the use of artificially spiked seed has shown the potential of this test to detect the bacterium directly in seed.
The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) has initiated comparative testing by international seed laboratories to establish an international standard for bacterial wilt of lucerne. This is important because many importing countries require a nil tolerance of Clavibacter michiganense subsp. insidiosus and will not accept area freedom surveys. The ELISA test developed in SAR-10A is being evaluated in laboratories in four countries. Test kits and protocols have been sent to the laboratories and results are currently being received. Results will be collated for a meeting of the technical coordination group of the International Seed Health Initiative in Charlottetown, Canada in July 2000.

Availability of Technical and Economic Information

Project Title Practical guidelines for sub clover seed production in south eastern Australia

RIRDC Project No.: DAV-169A

Start Date: 1/01/00

Finish Date: 1/12/01

Researcher: Ms. Angela Avery

Organisation: Department of Natural Resources & Environment
RMB 1145
Chiltern Valley Road
RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685

Phone: (02) 6030 4500

Fax: (02) 6030 4600

Email: averya@rri.agvic.gov.au

Objectives
· To produce guidelines for sustainable sub clover seed production and prepare a booklet containing these guidelines (to camera ready word processing stage).

Current Progress Sub clover seed production is an important industry for the supply of seed to grazing and cropping industries. The continued ability of Australia to produce quality seed at an acceptable price for both the domestic and export markets is critical. Guidelines and benchmarks to support decisions relating to clover seed production will increase the competitiveness and economic and environmental sustainability of the industry. Currently there are no such guidelines available for the management of sub clover for seed production.
This project commenced in January this year and has supplemented the literature review on sub clover that was undertaken in DAV -144A (Improved seed production: "Towards 1.5 tonnes"). This review in combination with past research results that have be collected and re-analysed are currently being used to develop guidelines for sub clover seed growers.

Improve Production Efficiency

Project Title Improved pollination of seed lucerne

RIRDC Project No.: CSE-86A

Start Date: 30/08/99

Finish Date: 30/11/02

Researcher: Dr. Denis Anderson

Organisation: CSIRO Entomology
GPO Box 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6246 4148

Fax: (02) 6246 4000

Email: Denis.Anderson@ento.csiro.au

Objectives To improve the profitability of the lucerne seed industry by significantly increasing yields through improved pollination. The research will faciltiate the establishment of a leafcutter bee industry by:
· Improving current quarantine import protocols for leafcutter bees
· Developing methods to improve the recovery of leafcutter bees released on to lucerne crops
· Identifying and characterizing pests and pathogens of improted bees and their offspring
· Production of a booklet outlining requirements for successfully importing leafcutter bees and multiplying these in different Australian environments.

Current Progress
· Leafcutter bees imported from Canada must pass through quarantine before being released to lucerne crops. Improvements were made, during a January 1999 release, to the quarantine procedure, by refrigerating and increasing the size and surface area of the emergence chambers to reduce physical damage to the bees. A dipping procedure was also identified as a possible cause of premature death to adult bees released to the field.
· Experiments conducted in the USA, in July 1999, confirmed that the dipping procedure was detrimental to the survival and behaviour of adult bees. Hence, AQIS approved an alternative dipping solution for the December 1999 release. Approximately 100,000 bees were released in the ACT and NSW.
· However, the alternative dipping solution was also shown to be detrimental to bees, with less than a 1% progeny recovery rate. Hence, an area of Alberta, Canada was visited to determine whether it can be designated as a chalkbrood disease free area. Recently, AQIS has given tentative approval to import bees from this region, which should now allow for the successful establishment of the bee in Australia.

Project Title Development of new alternative legumes and appropriate weed control technology

RIRDC Project No.: DAN-163A

Start Date: 1/12/97

Finish Date: 30/06/02

Researcher: Mr. Graeme Sandral

Organisation: NSW Department of Agriculture
Agikrucltural Insttitute
PMB
WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650

Phone: 02 6938 1850

Fax: 02 6938 1809

Email: Graeme.sandral@agric.nsw.gov.au

Objectives
· To develop weed control options for new alternative annual legume species released from the National Alternative Annual Legume Improvement Program. Weed control options identified will ensure high seed crop yields and purity and assist with species adoption.
· To select legumes suitable for direct heading to reduce harvest costs and environmental damage caused by vacuum harvesting procedures. This will reduce seed costs and enhance species adoption.
· To significantly expand the range of annual legumes available for seed production by selecting new species and cultivars suitable for domestic and overseas markets and problem soils and climates in Australia.

Current Progress Over the 1999 season herbicide experiments where undertaken in glasshouse and field conditions. Glasshouse experiments focused on 19 Medicago ploymorpha genotypes and 58 Trifolium subterraneum genotypes. Field experimentation examined the herbicide tolerance in 12 forage legume cultivars to 10 herbicides and the re-growth potential of unsprayed controls after a silage cut.
Testing of Medicago ploymorpha genotypes identified SA15N37S3W as the only line tolerant to diuron, glyphosate, gramoxone and Simazine.
Screening of Trifolium subterraneum genotypes indicated SLN01S3W, SLN01S2W, SLN00S1W, SMN00S9W, SMN01S9W and YLN00S3W were the most tolerant lines to glyphosate, gramoxone, MCPA and Simazine.
Field testing of forage legumes identified that the per-emergent herbicides Treflan, Yield and Stomp could all be used safely. The post emergent herbicides were more damaging however the safest of these were Broadstrike and Trifolamine. The research also identified certain herbicide and cultivar combinations that should be avoided. These include MCPA or mixtures of MCPA (eg Tigrex) on Berseem clover, cultivars Elite II and Bigbee and Fench Serradella, cultivar Cadiz.
The re-growth potential of forage legumes was also examined and only 3 of the 12 cultivars tested exhibited adequate re-growth. These included the Persian clover cultivars, Leeton and Laser and the Berseem clover cultivar Elite II.

Project Title Improved seed production: "Towards 1.5 tonnes"

RIRDC Project No.: DAV-144

Start Date: 1/07/97

Finish Date: 30/11/00

Researcher: Ms. Angela Avery

Organisation: Department of Natural Resources & Environment
RMB 1145
Chiltern Valley Road
RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685

Phone: (02) 6030 4500

Fax: (02) 6030 4600

Email: averya@rri.agvic.gov.au

Objectives
· Increased production of quality subterranean clover seed by 50%, in northern Victoria and southern NSW.
· A grower network in the subterranean clover seed production industry to facilitate shared learning and communication.

Current Progress The Improved seed production project aims to increase the production of quality subterranean clover seed by 50%, in northern Victoria and southern NSW, as well as establishing networks between seed growers to encourage shared learning and communication.
The project is to be completed in June this year. Experimental sites were established in the autumn 1998 and were measured for herbage production throughout the growing season and seed yield at the end of the season. Subterranean clover showed no herbage mass or seed production responses to either the autumn/spring super (100 and 300 kg/ha) or the autumn/spring gypsum (500 and 1000 kg/ha). Herbage management effected seed production, with grazing tending to result in more but smaller seed. The spring herbicide treatments resulted in a severe reduction in seed yield on irrigated crops yet were the better treatments on dryland crops. This highlights the importance of timing and the growth stage of the plant at application when using herbicides to manage pasture for seed production. As a consequence of these results the farmer reference group decided to explore this herbage management in greater detail with further trials established in autumn 1999. The results from 1999 are currently being processed and final grower workshop is organised for late June.

Project Title Evaluating and managing lucerne seed wasp in lucerne seed crops

RIRDC Project No.: DEB-1A

Start Date: 1/08/98

Finish Date: 31/07/01

Researcher: Mr. James De Barro

Organisation: De Barro Agricultural Consulting
PO Box 424
KEITH SA 5267

Phone: (08) 8755 3133

Fax: (08) 8755 3111

Objectives
· To quantify the peak presence of lucerne seed wasp in lucerne seed crops and its cost to lucerne seed growers and the industry and determine the influence of sanitation and closing date of lucerne seed crops on wasp population development. A management plan for lucerne seed wasp will be produced for lucerne and seed growers and industry related personnel.

Current Progress Seed wasps hatched from residual infected paddock seed in late October 1999 until December 1999 and reached their peak crop presence in mid February 2000. This reflects results reported for season 1998-99.
Sanitation trials were again conducted. 1998-99 crops closed for seed production across a three week period (20/9/98 - 12/11/98) were not at risk from economic damage but beyond this period increased seed wasp population development was recorded. Crop closure within a 3 week time span coupled with sanitation procedures were critical in managing wasp population development.
A research visit to Forbes, NSW, determined that seed wasp presence and potential management is very similar to that of the research area in Keith. A sanitation and closure timing trial was conducted in Forbes.
The seed loss caused by the seed wasp in 1998/99 was calculated to be 91.34 kg/ha which represented a relative seed loss of 22.5%.
Assessment of lucerne offal was conducted from last season and the preserved hatched wasps will be sent to the CSIRO Division of Entomology in Canberra for identification of species and sex. It was unclear if any parasites of the seed wasp hatched but it appeared there is considerable differences in wasp morphology, especially sexual dimorphism.

Project Title Development of an integrated control strategy for "lucerne yellows" disease in lucerne

RIRDC Project No.: US-85A

Start Date: 1/01/00

Finish Date: 31/12/02

Researcher: Dr. Geoff Gurr

Organisation: The University of Sydney
Orange Agricultural College
PO 883
ORANGE NSW 2800

Phone: (02) 6360 5551

Fax: (02) 6363 5590

Email: ggurr@aoc.usyd.edu.au

Objectives
· To identify the cause of the important disease 'lucerne yellows'; to determine how it is spread; and to devise, test and extend a strategy for best practice disease management.

Current Progress Project commenced on schedule in January 2000. PhD student (L. Pilkington) and fractional technical assistant (D. Read) appointed. NSW Agriculture Biometrician (Dr. R. Van De Ven) co-opted to research team. Leigh Pilkington has received training in electron microscopy techniques, plant nucleic acid extraction and detection of phytoplasma DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Training in more detailed molecular biology techniques will be conducted when the first stage of the diagnostic test is optimised. Several lucerne growers are collaborating and field collections of diseased plants made during summer/autumn 2000. Potential leafhopper vectors have been identified from infected crops. Molecular biology laboratory established and operational in Orange. Leigh Pilkington has networked with researchers in Adelaide and will receive some SA lucerne yellows DNA samples from them to compare with samples collected in NSW. Initial tests indicate ‘positive’ for presence of phytoplasmas within symptomatic lucerne plants but refinement of the test is necessary before it can be used as a routine diagnostic tool. On schedule to complete phase one of the project by September 2000.

Links

Project Title	Evaluation of lucerne varieties for seed yield and strategies to enhance seed productivity
RIRDC Project No.:	IPB-1A
Start Date:	1/07/98
Finish Date:	30/09/01
Researcher:	Dr Ross Downes
Organisation:	Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd
Phone:	(02) 62551461
Fax:	(02) 62784676
Email:	ipb@interact.net.au
Objectives	· This project will identify the Australian and overseas varieties of lucerne with the highest seed potential. Genetic and environmental factors related to low seed production will also be identified. Breeders will be advised of attributes which positively affect yield potential.
Current Progress	Field studies on commercial farms are evaluating effect of environmental and genetic factors on seed yield. Yield of irrigated crops varied from 350 to 1100 kg/ha in 1999. Varietal yields were modified by soil, location and management. Sampling within varieties in 1999 indicated considerable variation in seed production per plant with some plants producing no seed. Within varieties 25% of plants produced more than 50% of the seed, and the poorer 50% of plants produced only 20% of the seed. The frequency of poor seed yielding plants was greater in varieties with low seed yield. During the 2000 season, observation and sampling concentrated on identifying reasons for variation in seed yield among plants within fields. Particular attention was paid to numbers and activity of bees in relation to ‘tripping’ of flowers, pod set and seed production. Samples were taken for detailed study. Seed was harvested from high and low seed yielding plants in 1999 to determine the inheritance of seed production. Seed was sown in nurseries from which samples were taken in 2000 for subsequent analysis. Findings have been discussed with participating seed producers, to encourage evaluation of different management practices, and with breeders, to assist in selection for seed yield in breeding programs.

Project Title	Determine international standards for disease testing of lucerne seed
RIRDC Project No.:	SAR-25A
Start Date:	15/08/99
Finish Date:	15/08/00
Researcher:	Dr. Kathy Ophel-Keller
Organisation:	South Australian Research and Development Institute Field Crops Pathology Unit Waite Campus GPO Box 397 URRBRAE SA 5001
Phone:	(08) 8303 9368
Fax:	(08) 8303 9393
Email:	ophelkeller.kathy@saugov.sa.gov.au
Objectives	· To determine international standards for disease testing of lucerne seed for bacterial wilt and Verticillium wilt.
Current Progress	The Australian export lucerne seed industry requires a rapid, reliable and sensitive test for the detection of bacterial wilt in lucerne seed. There is no internationally standardised test available. The most common diagnostic tests are based on culturing the bacterium on selective media; however, the bacterium is slow-growing and difficult to culture. An immunoassay (ELISA) was developed to detect Clavibacter michiganense subsp. insidiosus, the causal agent of bacterial wilt in lucerne (Medicago sativa) (SAR-10A). Although no naturally infected seed could be sourced during the development of this assay, the use of artificially spiked seed has shown the potential of this test to detect the bacterium directly in seed. The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) has initiated comparative testing by international seed laboratories to establish an international standard for bacterial wilt of lucerne. This is important because many importing countries require a nil tolerance of Clavibacter michiganense subsp. insidiosus and will not accept area freedom surveys. The ELISA test developed in SAR-10A is being evaluated in laboratories in four countries. Test kits and protocols have been sent to the laboratories and results are currently being received. Results will be collated for a meeting of the technical coordination group of the International Seed Health Initiative in Charlottetown, Canada in July 2000.

Project Title	Practical guidelines for sub clover seed production in south eastern Australia
RIRDC Project No.:	DAV-169A
Start Date:	1/01/00
Finish Date:	1/12/01
Researcher:	Ms. Angela Avery
Organisation:	Department of Natural Resources & Environment RMB 1145 Chiltern Valley Road RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685
Phone:	(02) 6030 4500
Fax:	(02) 6030 4600
Email:	averya@rri.agvic.gov.au
Objectives	· To produce guidelines for sustainable sub clover seed production and prepare a booklet containing these guidelines (to camera ready word processing stage).
Current Progress	Sub clover seed production is an important industry for the supply of seed to grazing and cropping industries. The continued ability of Australia to produce quality seed at an acceptable price for both the domestic and export markets is critical. Guidelines and benchmarks to support decisions relating to clover seed production will increase the competitiveness and economic and environmental sustainability of the industry. Currently there are no such guidelines available for the management of sub clover for seed production. This project commenced in January this year and has supplemented the literature review on sub clover that was undertaken in DAV -144A (Improved seed production: "Towards 1.5 tonnes"). This review in combination with past research results that have be collected and re-analysed are currently being used to develop guidelines for sub clover seed growers.

Project Title	Improved pollination of seed lucerne
RIRDC Project No.:	CSE-86A
Start Date:	30/08/99
Finish Date:	30/11/02
Researcher:	Dr. Denis Anderson
Organisation:	CSIRO Entomology GPO Box 1700 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone:	(02) 6246 4148
Fax:	(02) 6246 4000
Email:	Denis.Anderson@ento.csiro.au
Objectives	To improve the profitability of the lucerne seed industry by significantly increasing yields through improved pollination. The research will faciltiate the establishment of a leafcutter bee industry by: · Improving current quarantine import protocols for leafcutter bees · Developing methods to improve the recovery of leafcutter bees released on to lucerne crops · Identifying and characterizing pests and pathogens of improted bees and their offspring · Production of a booklet outlining requirements for successfully importing leafcutter bees and multiplying these in different Australian environments.
Current Progress	· Leafcutter bees imported from Canada must pass through quarantine before being released to lucerne crops. Improvements were made, during a January 1999 release, to the quarantine procedure, by refrigerating and increasing the size and surface area of the emergence chambers to reduce physical damage to the bees. A dipping procedure was also identified as a possible cause of premature death to adult bees released to the field. · Experiments conducted in the USA, in July 1999, confirmed that the dipping procedure was detrimental to the survival and behaviour of adult bees. Hence, AQIS approved an alternative dipping solution for the December 1999 release. Approximately 100,000 bees were released in the ACT and NSW. · However, the alternative dipping solution was also shown to be detrimental to bees, with less than a 1% progeny recovery rate. Hence, an area of Alberta, Canada was visited to determine whether it can be designated as a chalkbrood disease free area. Recently, AQIS has given tentative approval to import bees from this region, which should now allow for the successful establishment of the bee in Australia.

Project Title	Development of new alternative legumes and appropriate weed control technology
RIRDC Project No.:	DAN-163A
Start Date:	1/12/97
Finish Date:	30/06/02
Researcher:	Mr. Graeme Sandral
Organisation:	NSW Department of Agriculture Agikrucltural Insttitute PMB WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
Phone:	02 6938 1850
Fax:	02 6938 1809
Email:	Graeme.sandral@agric.nsw.gov.au
Objectives	· To develop weed control options for new alternative annual legume species released from the National Alternative Annual Legume Improvement Program. Weed control options identified will ensure high seed crop yields and purity and assist with species adoption. · To select legumes suitable for direct heading to reduce harvest costs and environmental damage caused by vacuum harvesting procedures. This will reduce seed costs and enhance species adoption. · To significantly expand the range of annual legumes available for seed production by selecting new species and cultivars suitable for domestic and overseas markets and problem soils and climates in Australia.
Current Progress	Over the 1999 season herbicide experiments where undertaken in glasshouse and field conditions. Glasshouse experiments focused on 19 Medicago ploymorpha genotypes and 58 Trifolium subterraneum genotypes. Field experimentation examined the herbicide tolerance in 12 forage legume cultivars to 10 herbicides and the re-growth potential of unsprayed controls after a silage cut. Testing of Medicago ploymorpha genotypes identified SA15N37S3W as the only line tolerant to diuron, glyphosate, gramoxone and Simazine. Screening of Trifolium subterraneum genotypes indicated SLN01S3W, SLN01S2W, SLN00S1W, SMN00S9W, SMN01S9W and YLN00S3W were the most tolerant lines to glyphosate, gramoxone, MCPA and Simazine. Field testing of forage legumes identified that the per-emergent herbicides Treflan, Yield and Stomp could all be used safely. The post emergent herbicides were more damaging however the safest of these were Broadstrike and Trifolamine. The research also identified certain herbicide and cultivar combinations that should be avoided. These include MCPA or mixtures of MCPA (eg Tigrex) on Berseem clover, cultivars Elite II and Bigbee and Fench Serradella, cultivar Cadiz. The re-growth potential of forage legumes was also examined and only 3 of the 12 cultivars tested exhibited adequate re-growth. These included the Persian clover cultivars, Leeton and Laser and the Berseem clover cultivar Elite II.

Project Title	Improved seed production: "Towards 1.5 tonnes"
RIRDC Project No.:	DAV-144
Start Date:	1/07/97
Finish Date:	30/11/00
Researcher:	Ms. Angela Avery
Organisation:	Department of Natural Resources & Environment RMB 1145 Chiltern Valley Road RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685
Phone:	(02) 6030 4500
Fax:	(02) 6030 4600
Email:	averya@rri.agvic.gov.au
Objectives	· Increased production of quality subterranean clover seed by 50%, in northern Victoria and southern NSW. · A grower network in the subterranean clover seed production industry to facilitate shared learning and communication.
Current Progress	The Improved seed production project aims to increase the production of quality subterranean clover seed by 50%, in northern Victoria and southern NSW, as well as establishing networks between seed growers to encourage shared learning and communication. The project is to be completed in June this year. Experimental sites were established in the autumn 1998 and were measured for herbage production throughout the growing season and seed yield at the end of the season. Subterranean clover showed no herbage mass or seed production responses to either the autumn/spring super (100 and 300 kg/ha) or the autumn/spring gypsum (500 and 1000 kg/ha). Herbage management effected seed production, with grazing tending to result in more but smaller seed. The spring herbicide treatments resulted in a severe reduction in seed yield on irrigated crops yet were the better treatments on dryland crops. This highlights the importance of timing and the growth stage of the plant at application when using herbicides to manage pasture for seed production. As a consequence of these results the farmer reference group decided to explore this herbage management in greater detail with further trials established in autumn 1999. The results from 1999 are currently being processed and final grower workshop is organised for late June.

Project Title	Evaluating and managing lucerne seed wasp in lucerne seed crops
RIRDC Project No.:	DEB-1A
Start Date:	1/08/98
Finish Date:	31/07/01
Researcher:	Mr. James De Barro
Organisation:	De Barro Agricultural Consulting PO Box 424 KEITH SA 5267
Phone:	(08) 8755 3133
Fax:	(08) 8755 3111
Objectives	· To quantify the peak presence of lucerne seed wasp in lucerne seed crops and its cost to lucerne seed growers and the industry and determine the influence of sanitation and closing date of lucerne seed crops on wasp population development. A management plan for lucerne seed wasp will be produced for lucerne and seed growers and industry related personnel.
Current Progress	Seed wasps hatched from residual infected paddock seed in late October 1999 until December 1999 and reached their peak crop presence in mid February 2000. This reflects results reported for season 1998-99. Sanitation trials were again conducted. 1998-99 crops closed for seed production across a three week period (20/9/98 - 12/11/98) were not at risk from economic damage but beyond this period increased seed wasp population development was recorded. Crop closure within a 3 week time span coupled with sanitation procedures were critical in managing wasp population development. A research visit to Forbes, NSW, determined that seed wasp presence and potential management is very similar to that of the research area in Keith. A sanitation and closure timing trial was conducted in Forbes. The seed loss caused by the seed wasp in 1998/99 was calculated to be 91.34 kg/ha which represented a relative seed loss of 22.5%. Assessment of lucerne offal was conducted from last season and the preserved hatched wasps will be sent to the CSIRO Division of Entomology in Canberra for identification of species and sex. It was unclear if any parasites of the seed wasp hatched but it appeared there is considerable differences in wasp morphology, especially sexual dimorphism.

Project Title	Development of an integrated control strategy for "lucerne yellows" disease in lucerne
RIRDC Project No.:	US-85A
Start Date:	1/01/00
Finish Date:	31/12/02
Researcher:	Dr. Geoff Gurr
Organisation:	The University of Sydney Orange Agricultural College PO 883 ORANGE NSW 2800
Phone:	(02) 6360 5551
Fax:	(02) 6363 5590
Email:	ggurr@aoc.usyd.edu.au
Objectives	· To identify the cause of the important disease 'lucerne yellows'; to determine how it is spread; and to devise, test and extend a strategy for best practice disease management.
Current Progress	Project commenced on schedule in January 2000. PhD student (L. Pilkington) and fractional technical assistant (D. Read) appointed. NSW Agriculture Biometrician (Dr. R. Van De Ven) co-opted to research team. Leigh Pilkington has received training in electron microscopy techniques, plant nucleic acid extraction and detection of phytoplasma DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Training in more detailed molecular biology techniques will be conducted when the first stage of the diagnostic test is optimised. Several lucerne growers are collaborating and field collections of diseased plants made during summer/autumn 2000. Potential leafhopper vectors have been identified from infected crops. Molecular biology laboratory established and operational in Orange. Leigh Pilkington has networked with researchers in Adelaide and will receive some SA lucerne yellows DNA samples from them to compare with samples collected in NSW. Initial tests indicate ‘positive’ for presence of phytoplasmas within symptomatic lucerne plants but refinement of the test is necessary before it can be used as a routine diagnostic tool. On schedule to complete phase one of the project by September 2000.

Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Rural Industries
Research & Development Corporation