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FROM THE DIRECTOR
FOOD FOR THE HEART
CLIMA STAFF PROMOTED
WHAT'S NEW ON CLIMA'S WEBSITE
Drs OF SPIN - PR NEWS
NAPLIP MEETING
PhD AWARDS
RESEARCH REPORTS
CONFERENCES
CLIMA EXTENSION
TRAVEL NEWS
CLIMA VISITORS
BABY NEWS
CREDITS
The new ‘public face’ of the health and food section of the CLIMA Web site is now available at http://www.passionfor pulses.com Dr Nancy Longnecker put together the site as part of a GRDC grant (UWA 357), ‘Determination and promotion of health benefi ts of pulses’. Nancy’s role has been to coordinate the project with researchers across Australia and to use the results of the health studies to promote pulses to the public.
One of the collaborators, Professor Paul Nestel at the Baker Medical Research Institute, has shown that blood glucose and insulin levels were substantially lower after a chickpea meal than after wheat-based meals. Paul and Professor Madeleine Ball at the University of Tasmania have also both confi rmed that a diet high in chickpeas
FOOD FOR THE HEART - passionforpulses.com LAUNCHED
can help lower blood cholesterol. Studies by Dr Stuart Johnson of Deakin University in Melbourne on blood glucose, insulin and satiety will also be added to the Web site.
The promotion campaign got a boost recently with an article ‘Give peas a chance’ in the Weekend Australian glossy magazine. Nancy, who now lectures in Science Communication at UWA, says she was ecstatic with the article, as readership averages over 310,000. However, she commented that there is always a danger of things being ‘lost in translation’ when talking to journalists. When she told the journalist about a feeding study she is sure that she said it looked at Rams fed with lupins, but the article mentions feeding trials on Giraffes! ‘Maybe she was focused on my name,’ laughed Nancy.
CLIMA STAFF PROMOTED
Simone Chapple, who works on the GRDC-funded Transgenic Pulse Development Project (UWA 309) has recently been promoted to ‘Project Manager’, having received reclassifi cation to Chief Technician. She has been with CLIMA for 6 years, and her role for the CLIMA component of the project involves co-ordinating group research activities at the Shenton Park fi eld Station, UWA PC2 glasshouses and the CLIMA PC2 laboratory. Another CLIMA staff member, Priya Krishnamurthy who has been on the
project for over 2 years has also been promoted, to Research Assistant. Her duties have included generating transgenic plants and conducting DNA and protein analysis on those plants.
CLIMA staff Priya Krishnamurthy and Simone Chapple happy with their recent reclassifi cation
A transgenic program has been part of CLIMA since 1994, with researchers located at UWA, Murdoch University and CSIRO Canberra. The program has developed an effi cient gene transfer system for a range of legumes. Supervising the current project are Drs Susan Barker, Steve Wylie and Penny Smith. Penny has recently returned to UWA after taking leave following the birth of her daughter Jemima. The project, which is in its fi nal year of funding, has been mainly focussed on the introduction of viral and fungal disease resistance genes to lupins and chickpeas. Presently, homozygous lines are being identifi ed for seed bulking in preparation for fungal and viral testing to be carried out at DAWA.
We congratulate both team members on their success in securing reclassifi cation.
Professor Kadambot Siddique
The Governing Board of CLIMA met in December last year and reviewed the progress of CLIMA Research Alliance. The Board was impressed with the achievements of CLIMA during the past 3 years and pledged their support for the next 3 years.
The Board reconfi rmed the role of CLIMA as a research alliance where the partners acting together would lead to outcomes superior to the agencies acting alone. The primary role of CLIMA would be in the area of legume germplasm enhancement and development utilizing the world’s best science. In the fi rst half of 2004, CLIMA would lead discussions on strategies to achieve that aim, engaging senior decision makers and scientists in the partner agencies, other research agencies in Australia and overseas, and industry. CLIMA pulse germplasm enhancement research will be reviewed on 1st April and new strategies will be discussed and developed at this meeting convened by Dr Tanveer Khan.
The Board considered the relationship between CLIMA and the proposed Integrated Agricultural Research Institute in WA. The Board concluded that CLIMA’s role fi tted
FROM THE DIRECTOR well with the aspirations of the Institute and would compliment institute activities.
Dr Graeme Robertson, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, recently took up a new position as the Director and Professor of the Muresk Institute of Agriculture with the Curtin University of Technology. Dr Robertson’s contribution to CLIMA as a Board member and Chairman has been outstanding. He is a strong advocate of collaborative research in WA and we thank him for his valuable contribution and wish him well in the new position.
International collaboration is a major focus of CLIMA. Recently CLIMA’s Program Management Team reviewed CLIMA international agreements. We have agreed to renew existing agreements with ICARDA, ICRISAT, Washington State University, CDC- University of Saskatchewan, Vavilov Institute St Petersburg, Morocco and Portugal.
During early January Dr Heather Clarke and I visited ICRISAT, India to discuss the progress of our collaborative project on interspecific hybridisation in chickpea. We met with a number of senior scientists and management at ICRISAT. We
ICRISAT staff making Cicer crosses
identifi ed areas for future collaboration especially in the area of chickpea germplasm enhancement and genetic resources. Recently several of our scientists travelled overseas (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Portugal and Morocco) on project matters. A number of CLIMA scientists will be attending and presenting papers at the forthcoming (June 2004) European Grain legume Conference in France.
CLIMA was actively involved in the development of a large proposal on “Australian Centre for Health and Food” to the Government of Western Australia. The interview for the above initiative was on 8th March 2004. A fi nal decision on the submission will be given in July. CLIMA made two full proposals to RIRDC early this year. We have also submitted an international collaborative project proposal on faba bean with China to the Department of Education, Science and Training in Canberra. Unfortunately, GRDC has not funded our project on “Lupin Germplasm Enhancement” which was a high priority in their investment plan 2004-05. The general feed back is that GRDC has some serious shortage of funds due to drought during 2000-01 seasons in Australia.
CLIMA seminar series for 2004 has commenced with a flying start including a presentation from Dr Hari Upadhyaya, ICRISAT. Dr Debbie Thackray, CLIMA Communication Coordinator is the convenor of this year’s seminar series. Dr Susan Barker, Ms Sofi e Sipsas and I made brief presentations at the recent Australian Women in Agriculture WA branch meeting at CBH on 9 March. CLIMA’s Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has its autumn meeting on 2 April 2004 at the University of Western Australia.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Happy marriage of Drs of spin and Drs of Ag. Science
by Mr Eammon Conaghan
In 2001, CLIMA leapt into the uncertain world of commercial R&D as its CRC phase concluded. The drive to attract funds in a competitive environment required a new focus on communications to ensure CLIMA’s impressive credentials were familiar to funding bodies and other important stakeholders. To help build equity in its name, CLIMA became a client of Brendon Cant & Associates PR and Marketing (BCA). Bringing together PR and science, however, is tantamount to interspecifi c hybridisation – they do not appear immediately compatible.
So, can doctors of agricultural science work next to the so-called doctors of spin? The answer, for CLIMA, can be found across the world-wide web-pages of agricultural news agencies, on the pages of rural weekly tabloids and in national industry magazines such as Australian Grain and Australian Farm Journal. The marriage has been a happy one. BCA handles technical issues with a mix of sensitivity and vision, while CLIMA scientists have enthusiastically embraced communication.
For a scientist, it’s not easy to watch the details of years of research trickle from the record, as a 10 page progress report melts into a one page media release. It also takes strength to make a newsworthy quote that doesn’t entail a dozen
qualifi ers. But without brevity or a bold statement,
media releases become mundane and mundane
is not news. One of the most important factors
in CLIMA’s PR success has been its innovative research. Some examples follow, under the
headlines that have made editors around Australia
sit up and take notice:
‘ESKIMO’ CHICKPEA COMES IN FROM COLD*: Chickpeas were pollinated in cold rooms to help select ‘Eskimo’ varieties able to withstand the cool inland temperatures that stop reproduction in traditional cultivars.
FINDING FAMILY FRIENDS AMONG WILD RELATIVES: 108 wild accessions related to chickpea were brought to UWA to track new genetic resistances for some of the disease threats confronting cultivated chickpea.
LUPINS NOT POLES APART: Attempts to
Eammon on the job.
adapt the exotic South American lupin species, L. mutabilis, to local conditions saw an international expert from Poland visit CLIMA to advise on interspecifi c crosses with WA species. Mutabilis grain could be worth $100/tonne more than narrow leafed lupin.
SUPER SULLA: The ongoing development of a locally adapted variety of the pasture species, sulla, promises to bring the palatable, high protein, ‘non-bloating’ crop to southern Australia, where its natural tannins could control parasitic worms in grazing animals.
CLIMA CLIMB: Perhaps the headline BCA produced that best exemplifi es CLIMA’s progress and positive outlook. Used in 2002, it is still current in 2004 and we trust it will stay that way.
Note from Brendon Cant: Eammon, who has been with BCA since January, 2001 and has worked closely and productively with many CLIMA researchers, has resigned to head for the northern hemisphere to reconnect with his Irish roots. Eammon has made an outstanding contribution, not only to CLIMA, but also to agricultural extension and PR across the board since joining BCA. Susan Hall, recent Curtin journalism graduate and daughter of East Brookton graingrowers, has joined BCA and will soon be known to the CLIMA ‘family’.
* CLIMA press releases can be accessed via the CLIMA website: www.clima.uwa.edu.au click on “news”, then “press releases”.
NAPLIP Meeting - February 2004by Dr Clinton Revell
Collaborators in the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Project (NAPLIP) met recently in Launceston. Issues discussed included the requirements necessary to satisfy the needs for Duty of Care when releasing new pasture species, updates on new releases such as Erica and Margurita
French serradella, progress towards commercial isation of new species l ike Trifolium dasyurum and Melilotus alba and new initiatives such as late maturing Trifolium and Ornithopus sp. The activities of the major Genetic Resource Centres were also covered, including the latest proposal that will see all centres funded out of a single project.
Dr Mark Howden from CSIRO talked about climate change and the implications for plant improvement, and Bob Reid gave his perspective on the needs and challenges for the conservation of genetic resources. Funding for the current NAPLIP project will terminate in June 2005, hence a major challenge for the group over the next 12 months will be to develop a new research proposal. This process commenced at the meeting with a workshop designed to establish what a new NAPLIP might look like and what research and development needs it might address
Ph.D. Awards
Michael Materne In early December 2003, Michael Materne’s thesis was passed and he received the Doctorate degree at the graduation ceremony on 16 March 2004, at the University of Western Australia. Michael’s thesis was on “Adaptation of lentils to southern Australia” under the supervision of Professor Kadambot Siddique, Dr John Hamblin and Dr JanBert Brouwer (formerly with VIDA). Michael’s PhD research was supported by GRDC. Michael completed his PhD research while working as a senior pulse breeder at VIDA, the position he still holds. Congratulations Dr Materne!
Krys Haq Also spotted at the recent graduation ceremony was ex CLIMA employee Krys Haq. Her thesis was entitled “Lupinus angustifolius rhizobia differ in abundance, diversity and symbiotic performance compared with subterranean clover rhizobia in the same fi eld environment.” and was supervised by Professor Lynette Abbott (UWA, School of Earth and Geographical Science), Dr Janice Thies (previously at CLIMA and now at Cornell University)and Dr Simon Toze (CSIRO Division of Land and Water).
Krys is now employed in Student Services at UWA as a Learning Skills Advisor, though she is currently seconded to the position of Postgraduate Education Offi cer. Well done Dr Haq!
Prof. Kadambot Siddique congratulates Dr Michael Materne
Dr Krys Haq with Prof. Lyn Abbott
RESEARCH REPORTS
Pea Progeny Better than Parents?
by Mr Cameron Beeck
Field pea has a reputation for being very susceptible to blackspot (Mycosphaerella pinodes) and a tendency to lodge due to weak basal stems and high biomass. In late 2001, I started my PhD on “Rapid recurrent selection to improve resistance to black spot in peas” supervised by Dr Janet Wroth (UWA), Assoc. Prof. Wallace Cowling (UWA) and Dr Tanveer Khan (DAWA). My study uses recurrent selection to combine blackspot resistance and stem strength genes from a population of parents into ever improving progeny. Parents chosen for the crossing program were from a wide-ranging pedigree, including adapted Australian germplasm and exotic novel germplasm.
In winter 2003, the progeny, at F3:F4 stage, were subjected to a disease trial at Medina research station. Many of the progeny displayed large improvements over the parents for disease resistance and others showed improvements in stem strength. However, some of the progeny showed improvements for both disease resistance and stem strength. These results show that recurrent selection can produce signifi cant gains for multiple traits in a short period of time. Crossing has just been completed for the second cycle of selection,
where I am hoping the variation from the wide crosses will result in even greater improvement.
Example of pea progeny with improved disease resistance and stem strength
WHAT’S NEW ON THE CLIMA WEB SITE
• Press releases since last news-letter (click on “news” and then “press releases” in left-hand margin): “Super Sulla” (January 2004); “Chef ’s explore Flavour Saviour” (March 2004).
• CLIMA Seminar Program (click on “news” page and then “seminar se-ries” in left-hand margin).
• The new version of the health and food section of the CLIMA Website is now avai lable at : www.passionforpulses.com. It can still be accessed by clicking on “Legumes and Health Public” in the top margin of CLIMA’s home page.
• The latest Lathyrus Newsletter (December 2003). Click on “News”, then on “Lathyrus Newsletter” to get there.
• Casbah Biserrula: A document discussing the link between rare cases of photosensitisation and Casbah has been added. Click on “Pastures”, then “Pasture Cultivars”, then “Casbah”.
Screening Lupins for Herbicide Tolerance
By DrPing Si
With the wide spread use of no-tillage farming systems, weed control in lupin crops relies largely on herbicides. A post-emergence herbicide, metribuzin, has been useful in giving greater control of broadleafed weeds in lupin crops, but it can cause serious yield loss in some new cultivars such as Tanjil. A GRDC project (UWA 00042) aims to incorperate metribuzin tolerance into disease resistant cultivars. A robust bioassay was developed to screen tolerance to metribuzin among lupin genotypes and we detected natural genetic
Variation in metribuzin tolerance among lupin lines
CONFERENCES
variation in tolerance among cultivars and advanced breeding lines. The method has now been adopted by the lupin breeding program at DAWA. We found tolerance in narrow-leafed lupin was independent of early vigour, and one tolerant breeding line WALAN 2141 has higher vigour than Tanjil. Growing environment had a large impact on the severity of damage caused by metribuzin. This work is a result of close collaboration between members of the CLIMA alliance; myself, a CLIMA researcher, DAWA lupin specialist, Dr Mark Sweetingham, DAWA lupin breeder, Dr Bevan Buirchell and DAWA herbicide experts, Drs David Bowran and Terry Piper. The WAHRI group at UWA provided facilities for development of the herbicide bioassay.
September 21-23 2004by Mr Wayne Hawthorn
The national ‘Bean Focus 2004’ event will be held at Tanunda in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. It will include a conference and a fi eld day and will involve international and Australia-wide speakers. Issues to be
covered include research, breeding, production, handling, processing, marketing and economic impact of beans. The aim is to ensure that together we lead the bean industry into a new and promising future. Over 200 participants are expected from all sections of the Australian bean industry, including growers, agronomists, researchers, marketers and processors, from around Australia.
More information: Wayne Hawthorne email: [email protected]
RANGELANDS OF THE ARID AND SEMI-ARID ZONES IN UZBEKISTAN by G. Gintzburger, K. Toderich, B. Mardonov & M. Mahmudov.This book presents a panorama of the biodiversity of the arid and semi-arid regions of Uzbekistan, their climatology, native fl ora, fodder properties, utilisation and range rehabilitation techniques. It also includes cross-references to the native vegetation of other arid and semi-arid zones of the World.
For order informationEmail: [email protected] price: 70 Euros (discount 25 % to students)
For a review: http://www.new-agri.co.uk/04-1/inprint.html#ip06
4th Int. Crop Science and 12th Aus. Agronomy Conferences
The Fourth International Crop Science Congress (4ICSC) and 12th Australian Agronomy Conference (AAC) will be held in Brisbane, 26 September -1 October 2004. Tony Fischer (Member Organizing Committee) says: “The AAC meeting would normally attract 250 or so, but the numbers and wealth of experience will be substantially increased by running the meeting with the 4ICSC. As well as its own afternoon of papers, the AAC part of the meeting includes a full day of fi eld trips, and posters can be displayed all week. By the way, the 13th AAC will be held in Perth in 2006.
The 100 4ICSC speakers offer world expertise in a number of fields related to Crop Science. The Congress program is broad, ranging from molecular biology and GMs, through water and agronomy to “effecting change”. Australian crop scientists are known for their ability to work right across this spectrum and to integrate, so come and participate to confi rm this! The deadline for poster-papers has been pushed back until 16 April 2004, and if you want you can register for part of the week rather than the whole week.”
For more information: http://www.cropscience2004.com/ Go to “author gateway” for information on submitting papers and posters
Clima Research PublicationsThe following refereed journal papers and other articles have been published in 2004, by CLIMA researchers and associates. The full 2003 publications list is available on the CLIMA website: www.clima.uwa.edu.au Click on “staff and students” in top margin and then “CLIMA publications” in left margin.Jones, R.A.C. (2004). Using epidemiological
information to develop effective integrated virus disease management strategies. Virus Research, 100: 5-30.Si, P. and Walton, G.H. (2004). Determinants of oil concentration and seed yield in canola and Indian mustard in the lower rainfall areas of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 55: 367-377.Siddique, K.H.M. (2004). Water Defi cits - Development. In: ‘Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science’. Mercel Dekker Inc., New York USA. pp. 1284-1287.Slattery, J., Siddique, K.H.M. and Howieson, J. (2004). Cool-Season Grain Legumes Production and Rhizobial Interactions in Australian Dryland Agriculture. In ‘ Challenges and Strategies for Dryland Agriculture’. Crop Science Society of America, Madison USA. Chapter 15, pp. 1-14.Taylor, G.B. (2004). Effect of temperature and state of hydration on rate of imbibition in soft seeds of yellow serradella. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 55: 39-45.Thackray, D.J., Diggle, A.J., Berlandier, F.A. and Jones, R.A.C. (2004). Forecasting aphid outbreaks and cucumber mosaic virus epidemics in lupin crops in a Mediterranean-type environment. Virus Research, 100: 67-82.
We encourage all CLIMA staff and associates to forward 2 hard copies of your publications to Professor Kadambot Siddique. Refereed and published journal papers, conference papers and book chapters are all of interest and will attract considerable research income payment to CLIMA from its University partners.
5th European Conference on Grain Legumes, Dijon, France7-11 June, 2004http://www.grainlegumes.com/dijon_2004/
Bean Focus, Barossa Valley, S Australia21-23 September, 2004email: [email protected]
4th Int. Crop Science and 12th Aus. Agronomy Conference, Brisbane26 September - 1 October, 2004http://www.cropscience2004.com
International Edible Legume Conference, Durban, South Africa 17-21 April, 2005http://www.up.ac.za/conferences/ielc
11th International Lupin Conference,Guadalajara, Mexico 4-9 May, 2005http://www.cucba.udg.mx/eventos/lupinus/lupinus.html
CONFERENCE DIARY
CLIMA EXTENSION
CLIMA Scientifi c Writing Course
by Mr Kioumars Ghamkhar
I was lucky enough to participate in what, I believe, will be looked upon as one of the most useful courses run by CLIMA. There were 3 one-day sessions on consecutive Fridays and a follow-up half-day, 4 weeks later. The main intention was to prepare a paper suitable for submission to a refereed journal. Part of the course was taught, but the emphasis was on inviting and discussing other participants’ comments during group sessions.
Emeritus Professor David Lindsay led us through the development of a well-structured manuscript. Each session was so well targeted and it amazed me how effective they were. The fi rst group discussion was over paper titles and every participant was able to understand David’s message for his/her paper. Thus, the participants
quickly created their own platform for the next session: “a short dot point list of statements that lead to a hypothesis, i.e. the backbone of an introduction”. During the following course days, participants were familiarised step by step with constructing a hypothesis, results and discussion. It was especially nice to see and comment on the concluding paragraphs of everyone’s discussion on the last day.
I was familiar with most of the concepts, but it was very helpful to see these put together; it helped crystallise my own thinking. I felt inspired to be surrounded by so many talented and passionate people. This course also provided an unusual opportunity to receive positive (and negative) comments about my paper in a comfortable and safe environment. It was the open and (in general) friendly group discussions which made this course come alive for me. My paper received a thorough review and incorporated
Participants on the CLIMA Scientifi c Writing Course
some new, healthy qualities. I truly valued this experience.
Note: Debbie Thackray will be pleased to hear from anyone interested in attending a similar writing course in the future. Courses will be limited to around 10 participants.
Introducing New Pasture Legumes in Chile
by Dr Angelo Loi
I visited Chile 3 to 12 November 2003, funded by a Chilean project on the Introduction and management of yellow serradella for the systems of ‘Secano Interior De Cautin’. Scientists at the institute of INIA (Carillanca) have recognised the potential value of introducing pasture legumes into the area of Secano Interior of central Chile. This is seen as a strategy to
improve productivity and sustainability of the farming systems of the area. I was invited to tour the country and observe Chilean farming systems and to advise on potential methods of improvement and the use of suitable pasture legume species. Dr. Adrian Catrileo from Carillanca visited CLIMA last September and during my visit to Chile I travelled with him, Dr Oriella Romero and Dr Claudio Rojas from the IX region to the VII region and saw a number of farms. Included
TRAVEL NEWS
was the observation of an old stand of yellow serradella successfully established over a period of years at Fundo San Elias (Victoria). I also gave a seminar at INIA research station at Cauquenes, followed by a fi eld day in the surrounding region and a seminar at the Carillanca INIA research station followed by a fi eld day on the site.I had several meetings with researchers at Carillanca station, discussing issues related to the introduction, selection, ecology, agronomy, symbiosis and seed production of the new pasture legume species potentially useful in Chile.
Footnote from Dr Clinton Revell, NAPLIP, DAWA: Dr Angelo Loi has resigned from UWA to undertake a senior pasture research position with DAWA in South Perth. Dr Loi was a CLIMA research offi cer for ten years in the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Project (NAPLIP). In his new role, he will retain a close involvement with NAPLIP and CLIMA and continue his work developing new pasture species and cultivars. He also hopes to develop research activities in the area of farming systems that incorporate many of these new plants. Amongst other achievements, Dr Loi is
International Collaboration in Bangladesh
by Mr Bill MacLeod and Prof Kadambot SiddiqueFrom 21 to 29 February 2004, Prof. Kadambot Siddique, Mr Bill MacLeod and Mr Ted Knights from NSW Agriculture, Tamworth, visited Bangladesh as part of the project “Integrated management of Botrytis Grey Mould (BGM) in Bangladesh and Australia”, a collaborative project between 4 Australian institutions and institutions in Bangladesh and India. Dr Colin Piggin from ACIAR, who are funding the project, Dr Suresh Pande (ICRISAT) and Dr Chris Johansen (Consultant) also participated.
A workshop reviewed progress and set objectives for the current season. In addition to project staff, the workshop was attended by Mr Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Honourable State Minister for Agriculture, Bangladesh, Directors from Bangladesh Agricultural Research institute
and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and Department of Agricultural Extension Bangladesh. The Minister and Directors all emphasized the importance of chickpea and the impact of BGM disease on the crop in Bangladesh, and the relevance of this project.
We travelled to many on-farm demonstrations and experiments being conducted within the project. There are more than 100 experimental
sites throughout the districts of Rajbari, Faridpur, Jessore, Magura and Jhenaidah, in which production of chickpea has been greatly reduced by BGM. We also saw experiments at research stations at Jessore and Ishurdi which are “hot spots” for BGM, being used to screen Australian and Bangladeshi germplasm for resistance. Improved germplasm will be incorporated into the integrated disease management programs being evaluated in the on-farm experiments.
noted for his key role in the development of Biserrula, a new pasture species increasingly being used in the sheep/wheat zone of Western Australia.Angelo says “During my 10 years with CLIMA, I have had the pleasure of working with an amazing array of people that made my transition from my home in Sardinia into a new country, completing my PhD and my time in pasture research all pleasurable experiences. I extend my thanks to all at CLIMA for their support during my time with this organisation and I’m looking forward to my new role with the Department.”
GRDC supports lucerne study in Canada
by Ms Sharon Dawson
I’ve been employed through CLIMA since Feb 2001 on a GRDC project “Low-recharge farming systems for the south-west of WA based on lucerne”, supervised by Prof. Phil Cocks (UWA) and Mr Roy Latta (ex DAWA). My role was 50% research (rotation and establishment trials) and 50% extension, coordinating the “Western Australian Lucerne Growers” farmer group (WALG). Through WALG’s activities I met some very inspiring growers and professionals in landcare and agribusiness. WALG has recently received funding through the NLP state-wide program to employ another Coordinator/Communication Officer and expand its delivery of the on-farm ‘Assistance Package’ training program for fi rst-time lucerne growers. With the expiry of my project, I am taking an opportunity offered by a previous visitor to UWA to work for a season in Canada. Prof Martin Entz visited the faculty and CLIMA in early 2003 and enjoyed looking at our trials and meeting WALG’s collaborating farmers. With the help of a GRDC grant “Industry In-service Training”, I will spend 5-6 months at the University of Manitoba this northern summer, investigating lucerne in no-till systems. I am particularly looking forward to learning about their dryland hay production and exporting systems, which we have tried to determine the feasibility of in WA.
CLIMA VISITORS
Florentine students gain WA legume experience Between August and December 2003, Mr Lorenzo Milia and Mr Alessio Maoggi, two undergraduate students from the University of Florence in Italy, visited Mr Richard Snowball at DAWA and Dr Patrizia Gremigni at CSIRO Plant Industry, for three months training in research activities. Richard explained that Lorenzo characterised a subset of germplasm of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) selected from DAWA’s Pasture Genetic Resource Centre. Persian clover is one species that could contribute to cover crop diversity in vineyards and orchards. Several varieties have been developed for use in agricultural systems in southern Australia; however, they do not have the characteristics necessary for a cover crop species. Lorenzo spent many happy hours at the Medina Research Station recording a range of plant morphological characters in a diverse range of germplasm.Talking about her visitor, Patrizia said “Alessio’s help and enthusiam has been invaluable to me, since he has rapidly learnt and applied techniques of various degrees of complexity to measurement of plant phenological stages and performance under water stress. He will certainly remember his measurements of leaf water potential in water stressed chickpeas, pre-dawn!”
Alessio Maoggi, Lorenzo Milia and Patrizia Gremigni tagging chickpea pods at Merredin. (Photo courtesy Mrs Rebecca Tideswell).
BABY NEWS
“Baby congratulations are due to Art Diggle, Anna, Isaac and Yves. Bryn Eremaea Hepworth was born on 6 April and all are doing well.
ICRISAT visitor collaborates on chickpea collection
by Dr Heather ClarkeDr Hari Upadhyaya recently visited CLIMA from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). He presented a seminar “Enhancing use of germplasm in chickpea breeding” and had discussions with a number of CLIMA alliance researchers from UWA, DAWA and CSIRO. Dr Upadhyaya is a plant breeder with
a strong interest in collection, characterisation and identifi cation of useful germplasm for chickpea improvement. ICRISAT holds over 17,000 accessions of chickpea from 44 different countries and 62 accessions of wild Cicer species in their genebank. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has begun a new initiative worldwide, to safeguard the genetic diversity of crops. Their Challenge Program is called ‘Unlocking Genetic Diversity for the Resource Poor’, in which ICRISAT and Dr Hari Upadhyaya have a role in the development of a core collection of desi chickpea.
Dr Fucheng Shan (CLIMA) has developed DNA-based techniques for the genetic characterisation of annual wild Cicer. He has already found many gaps in the diversity of world collections. He is using DNA profi ling to study the relationships between wild species and chickpea and to recommend the best sites for future collections to maximise diversity. Dr Jens Berger (CLIMA) has skills and an eco-geographical approach to studying Cicer diversity that are also well recognised by ICRISAT. Dr Upadhyaya’s visit in February has cemented earlier plans for CLIMA to collaborate with ICRISAT on the development of the chickpea core collection.
Dr Hari Upadhyaya
NEWSLETTER CREDITS
© CLIMA 2004
Volume 5, Number 1 - April 2004
DISCLAIMER:
Layout:Paul RickettsDUIT Multimedia [email protected]
Contributing authors:
Mr Cameron Beeck [email protected]
Dr Heather Clarke [email protected]
Mr Eammon Conaghan c/o [email protected]
Ms Sharon Dawson [email protected]
Mr Kioumars Ghamkhar [email protected]
Mr Wayne Hawthorn [email protected]
Editor:
Dr Debbie Thackray [email protected]
M080Faculty of Natural and Agricultural SciencesThe University of Western Australia35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009
Dr Angelo Loi [email protected]
Dr Nancy Longnecker [email protected]
Mr Bill MacLeod [email protected]
Dr Clinton Revell [email protected]
Dr Ping Si [email protected]
Prof. Kadambot Siddique [email protected]
Dr Debbie Thackray [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.clima.uwa.edu.au
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this newsletter, the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) cannot accept any responsibility for the consequences of the use of this information. The Newsletter provides you with a brief explanation of research and other activities in progress and is a guide only.
