RIRDC Completed Projects in 2000-2001 & Research in Progress as at June 2001

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3.7 Pasture Seeds - Research in progress
PROJECT No	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION

Improved Production Efficiency

CSE-86A	Improved pollination of seed lucerne	Dr Dennis Anderson	(02) 6246 4148	CSIRO
DAN-163A	Development of new alternative legumes and appropriate weed control technology	Mr Graeme Sandral	(02) 6938 1850	NSW Dept of Agriculture
DAV-169A	Practical guidelines for sub clover seed production in south eastern Australia	Ms Angela Avery	(02) 6030 4500	DNRE Victoria
US-85A	Development of an integrated control strategy for "lucerne yellows" disease in lucerne	Dr Geoff Gurr	(02) 6360 5551	The University of Sydney
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

Environmental Issues for Industry

DEB-3A

A water balance study for lucerne seed production resourced by an underground aquifer

Mr James De Barro

(08) 8755 3133

De Barro Agricultural Consulting

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	Canadian leafcutter bees, Megachile rotundata, could increase lucerne seed yields in Australia. Over the past 3 years Canadian leafcutter bees have been imported into quarantine in Canberra as prepupae. In quarantine these prepupae have been placed in incubators to develop into adults. The adult bees have then been surface-sterilised in a dipping solution, before being released to the field. Results from the 1999/00 releases indicated that the quarantine dipping procedure is detrimental to the longevity of adult bees, regardless of the make-up of the dipping solution. Hence, in April 2000, 720,000 bees were imported from a region of Canada that AQIS approved as free of the leafcutter fungal disease, chalkbrood. This negated the need to dip the adult bees in quarantine in Australia. Between December 2000 and February 2001, approximately 300,000 undipped adult bees were released on to lucerne crops near Cooma, Wagga Wagga, Deniliquin, Forbes (NSW) and Canberra (ACT). A marked improvement was noted in the survival and recovery of these bees compared to previous years. A local parasitic wasp (Melittobia sp.) was detected in some of the recovered cells. Next years’ releases will focus on further improving the recovery of released bees and monitoring the levels of second-generation.

Project Title	Development of new alternative legumes and appropriate weed control technology
RIRDC Project No:	DAN-163A
Start Date:	01/12/97
Finish Date:	30/06/02
Researcher:	Mr. Graeme Sandral
Organisation:	NSW Department of Agriculture Agriculural Institute 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	During 2000 herbicide testing of forage legumes that was undertaken in 1999 was repeated to identify any seasonal differences in plant response to herbicides. Results obtained in 2000 indicated a higher level of plant damage than had been recorded in 1999. All the herbicide and cultivar combinations that showed a significant level of plant damage in 1999 measured 30 days after spraying also showed a significant level of plant damage in 2000 measured at the same time. Spring recovery from initial plant damage was evident and for most plant and herbicide combinations the results were similar to those obtained in 1999.  The research identified that of the per-emergent herbicides Treflan, Yield and Stomp, Stomp was the safest, although all the pre-emergent herbicides were safer than the post-emergent broadleaf herbicides. The most damaging post emergent herbicides were Tigrex and Jaguar although plant recovery was adequate for most cultivar combinations with these herbicides. As with last year’s results the research 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 French Serradella, cultivar Cadiz. Jaguar also caused significant reductions to Elite II and Bigbee. As with the 1999 season the re-growth potential of forage legumes was examined after a late silage cut. Three 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	Practical guidelines for sub clover seed production in south eastern Australia
RIRDC Project No:	DAV-169A
Start Date:	01/01/00
Finish Date:	01/10/01
Researcher:	Ms. Angela Avery
Organisation:	Department of Natural Resources & Environment (Vic) RMB 1145 Chiltern Valley Road RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685
Phone:	(02) 6030 4500
Fax:	(02) 6030 4600
Email:	angela.avery@nre.vic.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	The sub clover seed production industry is important for the supply of seed to the grazing and cropping industries. Agronomic information relating to sub clover seed production and access to specialist advisers is currently limited. As a result of this, growers identified production of guidelines as a priority for the industry. The development of guidelines is being based on information sourced from research, industry, seed certification officers and case studies of leading farmers and will detail critical areas for the production of quality seed for example soil fertility and grazing to optimise seed production.  The consultation process has highlighted large variability in production systems due to management capability, farm size, enterprise mix, natural resource base (especially soils) and variety. Other issues have related to marketing and concern over the image of sub clover and the need to measure and monitor key indicators such as soil (fertility and pH), organic matter, plant density, herbage mass, and harvest potential and efficiency.  The project is nearing competition with the outcomes from case studies and interviews being integrated into a structured user-friendly publication. While the publication is being targeted to sub clover seed producers it will also provide valuable information to all managers of sub clover pasture.

Project Title	Development of an integrated control strategy for "lucerne yellows" disease in lucerne
RIRDC Project No:	US-85A
Start Date:	01/01/00
Finish Date:	31/12/02
Researcher:	Dr. Geoff Gurr
Organisation:	The University of Sydney Faculty of Rural Management PO 883 ORANGE NSW 2800
Phone:	(02) 6360 5551
Fax:	(02) 6363 5590
Email:	ggurr@orange.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	The spatial and temporal development of lucerne yellows symptoms was recorded in three newly sown seed crops in the Lachlan Valley of NSW over the course of the 2000/2001 summer. Regular vacuum samples taken from the crop and surrounding vegetation at each site indicate the presence of several leafhoppers. Batracomorphus angustatus, Austroagallia torrida and Orosius argentatus are known as vectors of phytoplasma pathogens. Electron microscopy has shown the presence of phytoplasmas bodies in the phloem of symptomatic lucerne plants. These were absent in samples prepared from non-symptomatic plants. Nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction) has indicated the presence of a phytoplasma in some samples prepared from symptomatic lucerne. RFLP (restricted fragment length polymorphism) tests have shown that this phytoplasma is different from the only other phytoplasma recorded in Australian lucerne, the tomato big bud phytoplasma. The latter is associated with little leaf and phyllody symptoms, which are quite distinct from those, associated with lucerne yellows. Molecular studies have led to sequencing of the 16s and spacer region of the pathogen's DNA. This will allow its identity or novelty to be determined, as well as the development of a lucerne yellows-specific primer. This will maximise the utility of molecular testing for the pathogen, allowing alternative hosts and vectors to be identified.


 

Project Title	Evaluation of lucerne varieties for seed yield and strategies to enhance seed productivity
RIRDC Project No:	IPB-1A
Start Date:	01/07/98
Finish Date:	30/09/01
Researcher:	Dr Ross Downes
Organisation:	Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd PO Box 256 HAWKER ACT 2614
Phone:	(02) 62551461
Fax:	(02) 62784676
Email:	rdownes@ipbaustralia.com
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 the effect of environmental and genetic factors on seed yield. Sampling within varieties each year has 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. Seed harvested from high and low seed-setting plants was sown in a nursery. Seed production was highly heritable indicating a potential to increase seed yield through selection. During the 2000 season bees were not active in ‘tripping’ flowers and cross-pollination was, to a large extent, dependent on automatic ‘tripping’ of flowers. Plants varied in automatic ‘tripping’ ability. When seed from plants with genetic markers was sown, progeny testing revealed a high level of cross-pollination.  Sampling a wide range of crops has revealed variation in harvest index among crops from 0.3 to 0.1 and variation within crops from 0.43 to 0.0. Similar variation was evident in dry-land and irrigated crops.  Progress was reported at field days and was discussed with participating seed producers, to encourage evaluation of different management practices. In particular, spring and dryland seed crops, which require much less water than summer crops appear to offer substantial economic advantages. Breeders may be expected to select for seed yield in future breeding programs. Although varieties are evaluated for disease resistance and fodder yield before release, it is suggested that in future they also be evaluated for seed production potential to provide seed companies and growers with information on seed yield.

Environmental Issues for Industry
 

Project Title	A water balance study for lucerne seed production resourced by an underground aquifer
RIRDC Project No:	DEB-3A
Start Date:	01/09/00
Finish Date:	31/08/03
Researcher:	Mr. James De Barro
Organisation:	De Barro Agricultural Consulting PO Box 424 KEITH SA 5267
Phone:	(08) 8756 2777
Fax:	(08) 8755 3111
Email:	dbac@lm.net.au
Objectives	· Account for and quantify the water used in flood irrigated lucerne seed production on the four typical irrigated soil types in the Upper South East of South Australia. This water audit will be performed by measuring water pumped from the aquifer, lucerne seed crop water use, evaporative losses from the irrigation channel and flood bay and the percentage of water return back to the aquifer beyond the lucerne root zone. The recorded data will be used to review the accuracy of the crop area ratio system used for water allocations in the Tatiara Prescribed Area which is based only on estimates of crop water requirements. The data will also provide a quantified understanding of the fate of water pumped from the aquifer to flood irrigate lucerne seed crops and allow for an equitable use of any metered volumetric allocation system that may be instituted in future. The research will create a benchmark set of data for use in further research aimed at improving the efficiency of irrigation systems.
Current Progress	In what is fast becoming a critical piece of research the first irrigation season has been completed and all the required data has been collected. Overall the equipment used has operated effectively in recording the invaluable data. The data has not been fully assessed but will provide a quantified understanding of the fate of water pumped for flood irrigation of lucerne seed crops. Some interesting results are likely especially pertaining to the inefficiencies of aspects of the current irrigation systems. Water is returning back to the aquifer and it should be possible to determine the speed and volume both with the data collected and that which will be recorded continuously over the winter period. Some adjustments may be made prior to next season to further enhance the robustness of the data collected and the interpretations possible.