Winter 15 - GRDC · evidence on the importance of pulses for food security, nutrition and sustainable farming in support of the campaign. One projects underway is a comprehensive

Delegates at the 2013 Pulse Conference Field Day

NEWS

Australian Pulse Conference 2016

Feed the Farm, Feed the World - Save the Date!

The Australian Pulse Conference will be held

in Tamworth, NSW from 12 to 14 September 2016,

to coincide with the International Year of Pulses

(IYP).

The success of the inaugural PBA Pulse Conference

held in 2013, and attended by almost 200 delegates,

inspired the PBA partners to ensure that the

conference continues to be inclusive of all the pulse

community, hence the Australian Pulse Conference

(APC) has been born.

Themed Feed the Farm, Feed the World, the

conference will have a scientific focus aligned with

the International Year of Pulses aims to heighten

awareness of the benefits of pulses as part of

sustainable food production delivering food security

and nutrition; and to increase awareness and

understanding of the challenges faced by pulse farmers worldwide.

The APC will be formatted into a research presentations day, a production/industry presentations day

and a field day. A conference steering committee, lead by Dr Phil Davies, SARDI, has been established

and planning is well underway. Destinations Tamworth have been engaged as the Conference

Coordinators. The Committee is confident of delivering an informative and entertaining Australian

Pulse Conference in 2016 and will keep you all informed a plans progress. If you would like further

information please contact Phil Davies [email protected]

this issue

New PBA Varieties – p 2 Australia dishes up for IPY– p 3

Upcoming EVENTS– p 4 PBA Program Updates- p 5

Pulse Research News – p 11

Winter 15

mailto:[email protected]

PBA WINTER 15 NEWS Page 2

DAFWA Lupin Breeding team member, Michelle Priestley at Eradu, WA in early August with WALAN2385, the new narrow-leafed lupin variety for release this year.

New PBA Varieties

PBA will launch three new varieties this spring, with planting seed available

to growers for the 2016 season from PBA commercial partner Seednet.

There is a new faba bean for both the northern and southern regions. PBA Nasma will be released

this year on 9 September at the Plant Breeding Institute, Narrabri Field Day from the northern node of

the faba bean breeding program. It was evaluated as IX220d/2-5. PBA Nasma is well adapted to

northern NSW where it has out-yielded PBA Warda by approximately 3% in both rainfed and

irrigated trials. It has a similar level of resistance to rust and tolerance to bean leaf roll virus (BLRV)

as that of PBA Warda . PBA Nasma has much larger seed than any available northern faba bean

varieties. Its large and uniform seed size and colour, superior to that of PBA Warda , will make it

readily acceptable to human consumption markets. It is suggested as an alternative to PBA Warda

in northern NSW and southern Queensland for growers chasing extra yield and targeting larger seed

for premium markets.

PBA Zahra will be released this year at spring field days in the Southern Region. It was evaluated as

AF05095 and the reselection AF05095-1 within the southern node of the faba bean breeding program.

PBA Zahra is well adapted to the Southern Region, and in particular to areas with high yield

potential. It has out-yielded all older faba bean varieties by more than 5% in the zones of best

adaptation. It has a similar level of disease resistance as PBA Samira , except in the mid-north of SA

where it is MS/MR to the new pathotype of Ascochyta blight. PBA Zahra has large, plump seed,

similar in size to PBA Rana , and is uniform light brown in colour. It should be suited to a larger faba

bean category sought by the Egyptian food market. Any opportunity to segregate PBA Zahra will

maximise its marketing potential.

The new lupin cultivar WALAN2385

will be released this spring at the

Mingenew-Irwin Spring Field Day on

September 3. To be named on

release WALAN2385 is a high

yielding Australian sweet lupin

variety suitable for all lupin growing

areas of Australia. It provides a

significant yield improvement over

current varieties in most of regions.

Both PBA Nasma and PBA Zahra are protected under Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) legislation,

WALAN2385 will also be subject to PBR and seed of all varieties will be available from the commercial

partner Seednet for planting in 2016.


Garry Rosewarne, PBA Field Pea Breeder, with his signature dish entry - Pie floater in pea and potato soup. Now why didn’t this

win! (Photo: Simone Dalton, DED JTR, Horsham Victoria)

Ms Alison Victor’s winning Australian Signature Pulse Dish (Photo: GLNC)

Australia Dishes up for IYP

As the International Year of Pulses (IYP), 2016 draws

closer Australia has already selected a signature dish

for the world table. The 2015 Australian Signature

Pulse Dish Recipe competition, run by the Australia

IYP committee attracted more than 60 entries from

across the country from field pea breeders - our very

own Garry Rosewarne, chefs, home cooks and pulse

growers.

Ms Alison Victor’s Quinoa, black lentil and roasted

barley salad with chickpeas, cauliflower, brussell

sprouts and pomegranate in apple cider vinegar was

selected as the winning dish from the plethora of

entries.

An expert panel of judges including renowned chef

and International Year of Pulses Australian Advocate

Simon Bryant, chef of le Petit Gateau Patisserie

Pierrick Boyer, Food Director at taste.com.au

magazine Michelle Southan, and dietician and Scoop

Nutrition blogger Emma Stirling evaluated he entries.

The winning dish was announced and showcased at the 2015 Australian Grains Industry Conference

Gala Dinner on 29 July at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Alison’s dish will now progress to the global stage

along with other national signature dishes from around the world as part of the global pulse industry

celebrations for IYP.

The Global Pulse Confederation (GPC), are intensifying efforts to support the UN IYP celebration to

raise the profile of chickpeas, beans, lentils and dry peas around the world. GPC is coordinating pulse

industry participation through a wide network of four thematic committees and 32 national committees (including an Australian committee), whose members are volunteering their time and resources to IYP

activities and events. Additionally, fifteen external partners have been recruited to work on the year,

from major science centres, health institutes, and academics to farm groups.

IYP provides an opportunity to compile and promote scientific

evidence on the importance of pulses for food security,

nutrition and sustainable farming in support of the campaign.

One projects underway is a comprehensive review and

synthesis of all available scientific information to help raise

awareness of the potential of pulses to address global

sustainability issues and catalyse action to maximize the

sustainable production and consumption of pulses.

There will be many activities and events happening all over the

world in 2016, be sure to catch updates and follow the

campaign on Twitter@YearOf Pulses and on IYP2016.org.

http://iyp2016.org/themes

http://iyp2016.org/about-us/national-committees

https://twitter.com/@YearOfPulses

http://iyp2016.org/


Pulses in CAIGE

The GAIGE website now has a new pulse section – accessible through a click on

pulse icon. To date the pulse section contains lists of the pulse germplasm

imported from ICARDA in 2013 and 214 and the FIGS pulse sets developed by Ken

Street. As more data becomes available from other GRDC-funded projects using

the material it will be posted on the CAIGE website. It is hoped that yield trials data, disease screening

data, donor data and genotyping data will be available in future as it is for wheat (the CAIGE initiation

crop).

A CAIGE Steering Committee meeting will be held on 23rd September 2015. The aim of this

Committee only meeting is to discuss the projects’ progress and address any arising issues. Any

concerns or suggestions you have for the committee can be directed to Richard Trethowan

[email protected] or Sandra Micallef [email protected].

EVENTS

PBI Narrabri Field Day

Date: Wednesday 9 September 2015

Time: 9am – 4pm

Where: IA Watson Plant Breeding Institute,

Narrabri

Featuring:

This year’s theme is legumes and drought/heat

Attendees can look forward to

new innovative field displays

presentations

the launch of new faba bean variety PBA

Nasma

Morning tea, lunch and closing drinks are

included.

For more information contact Kedar Adhikari:

[email protected]





PBA PROGRAM UPDATES

Field Pea and Lentil

Peter Kennedy, Matt Rodda and Garry Rosewarne (DEPI Vic)

The PBA Lentil and Field Pea programs have just finished another successful sowing season for 2015.

The break in Victoria and some parts of SA was marginal and late, but in the end all trials were sown

on time. We had good emergence across all sites, although the cold winter has stalled growth. With

limited stored soil moisture across the majority of our trial sites follow up rains in spring will be needed

to ensure a good harvest.

Our most reliable site is near Horsham, on a chemical fallow with stored subsoil moisture from the

previous season. We are looking to establish other fallow sites remote from the Horsham facility for

next year. Another change to our trials includes co-locating both lentil and pea yield trials with the

Southern Pulse Agronomy trial run by Jason Brand at Curyo, in the Victorian Mallee. The Curyo site

generally gives reliable yields in tough years, and we expect to be able to value-add to both the

agronomy and breeding work through this co-location.

Glasshouse screening for a range of traits has commenced. Boron and salinity tolerance are key traits

for which extensive germplasm screening is undertaken each year in both lentils and field peas. A

controlled environment assay to screen lentils for botrytis grey mould resistance is being implemented.

The controlled environment assay has greater reliability than previous screens, and although

throughput is less, the stable results give much greater confidence in disease classification. Tailored

assays for the pea breeding program are also being established at Horsham for bacterial and ascochyta

blight . Both of these diseases have multiple causal organisms and the extra nurseries will

complement work done through SARDI and NSW DPI to better characterise resistance in the pea

germplasm.

Staff movements:

Mirella Butsch has decided to move on to other career opportunities. We wish her well, but will miss

her at Horsham, especially her high levels of organisation and skills in database management.

Peter Kennedy has taken a leadership role elsewhere within DEDJTR Vic. We commend Peter on his

work over the last couple of years, stepping up to fill the field pea breeder role. All those who had

interactions with Peter are aware of the professionalism and intelligence that he brought to the

program. Processes are underway to replace both staff members and we hope to have new people in

place for harvest.

We have welcomed a number of new interstate collaborators this year on lentil and pea breeding

programs, including –

Dr Sarah Ellis, research agronomist at NSW DPI, taking over from Eric Armstrong in southern

NSW, who has retired this year

Save the Date - 2016 PBA Tech Symposium

The next PBA Technical Symposium will be held at Horsham, hosted by DEDJTR Vic, on 23rd to

25 August 2016.. The 5th Australian technical symposium will feature a more hands on

approach for technical staff than past gatherings. Bruce Holding and Kristina Elliss are

organising the event and further information about agenda will be forth coming. Contact Bruce

Holding: [email protected]



IMI-tolerant lines and control varieties in a yield trial at Freeling, SA sprayed with Raptor at the recommended rate of 45g/ha. The control varieties show significant stunting 5 weeks after application.

Ms Sarah Day, research officer at SARDI in Clare, taking over the PBA responsibilities of Stuart

Sherriff and Mick Lines in Larn McMurray’s team

Mr Richard Snowball, research officer at DAFWA, taking over from Ian Pritchard in managing

WA pulse trials.

These highly capable scientists have hit the ground running, and we are looking well-positioned for the

coming years of national field trials.

Faba Bean

PBA Faba Bean Team Kedar Adhikari, IA Watson Grains Research Centre, Narrabri

The PBA faba bean breeding program continues to make advances in core breeding areas such as yield

and disease resistance, and is introducing new traits to improve the adaptation and fit of the crop in

farming systems.

Good progress has been made in incorporating the IMI-tolerance trait identified in SARDI project

DAS00131. Breeding lines from the first cycle of crosses between the original source of IMI tolerance

and several elite breeding lines have progressed through the yield evaluation phase with trials at 4

sites in South Australia and Victoria. The most promising of these lines (progeny of PBA Samira x

IMI-3) from the 2014 yield trials are being multiplied as a bulk, and pending results of 2015 trials could

be fast-tracked towards variety release. IMI-tolerance has been incorporated into a range of breeding

lines thanks to out-crossing by bees in a top crossing block in 2014. Tolerant F1 plants from a cross

between elite lines as the maternal parent and IMI-tolerant pollinators from the top-crossing block

were identified in January and tolerant F2 plants have recently been selected and are being multiplied.

The IMI-tolerance trait has now been introduced to elite lines adapted to the southern and northern

regions, to a broad bean background, and is also being combined with tolerance to metribuzin. The

improved herbicide tolerance should make weed management in faba bean crops much more flexible in

the near future.


Determinate faba bean plants

Faba beans produce excessive biomass, are prone to lodging and have poor pod set in the lower part

of the canopy when grown under high rainfall or irrigated conditions. One area we are to overcome

these problems is incorporating the determinate plant growth habit - where the terminal inflorescence

of the plant forms a flower bud - into locally adapted material. Determinate faba bean plants are much

shorter than conventional plant types and might have a role in situations where excessive biomass

causes problems. While several determinate faba bean varieties have been released in Europe, they

have not been widely grown as they generally have lower yield than conventional types. Nevertheless,

we have attempted to introduce the trait to elite Australian lines. In 2014, determinate selections

produced following 5 cycles of crossing to high biomass, high yielding conventional lines, were included

in limited yield trials. The highest yielding lines from 2014, which produced comparable yields to

conventional plant types at one site, are in trials at high rainfall sites in the mid-north and South East

of SA and also under irrigation in southern NSW. Results from these trials should give a much clearer

indication of whether determinate faba bean varieties might overcome some of the problems

associated with faba beans in conditions that are conducive to high biomass production.

The cross-pollinating nature of faba beans raises challenges for both the breeding program and

growers. Within the breeding program developing lines that are homozygous for key traits such as

disease resistance can be difficult. Growers adopting new varieties can have difficulties growing the

variety in isolation from other varieties to ensure the genetic integrity of the new variety is preserved.

However, cross-pollination also provides the potential to develop synthetic varieties and achieve yield

gains through the expression of heterosis. Yield gains are maintained within a synthetic variety

provided there is sufficient bee activity to ensure an adequate level of crossing. Several synthetic

populations, including small seed, medium seed and broad bean types have been developed in recent

years. In preliminary trials conducted in 2013 and 2014 the syn-1 population yielded more than the

average of the individual components (2013) and the syn-2 yielded more than the syn-1 population

and average of components (2014). The syn-2 of the small seed population was one of the highest

yielding lines in Stage 3 trials in the mid-north of SA. The increase in yield from syn-1 to syn-2 would


be expected for a partially cross-pollinated crop such as faba bean where the average level of cross-

pollination over a small distance is about 30-50%. In 2015 the syn-1, syn-2 and syn-3 populations are

being compared with each other, current varieties, and elite lines in most Stage 3 trials in the Southern

Region. If observed, further improvement in yield from syn-2 to syn-3 will be a very good indication

that heterosis is being expressed and raises the potential for developing synthetic faba bean varieties.

Seasonal outlook in the northern region

Growers have received good prices for faba bean in the last couple of years resulting in an increase in

the cropping area sown to faba bean. Faba bean growers in northern NSW and southern Queensland

took advantage of stored soil moisture and began planting faba bean in mid-April. They received

excellent rainfall in May, from 30 – 55 mm, and timely top ups continued into July. This has created a

full moisture profile in most areas, except the Walgett region. There has been little incidence of aphids

or diseases to date, but it may change given the warm moist conditions experienced over the past

week.

Leaf curling and distortion of stems due to previous application of phenoxy group herbicides, such as

Tordon® and Lontrel® has been observed in some paddocks north of Wee Waa. The herbicide break

down period can be long in heavy clay prevalent in northern NSW and southern Queensland presenting

a risk for residual herbicide damage. Due to a dry summer, herbicides may not have been broken

down as expected and limited growers are experiencing this effect. The forecast El-Nino conditions for

eastern Australia raises the possibility of a dryer than normal spring and summer, which may slow the

breakdown of herbicides. Taking this into consideration growers may need to increase the plant back

period for planting crops next year.

The faba bean breeding program has been boosted by a number

of post-graduate students at the University of Sydney in

Narrabri. Recent results indicated that a single dominant gene

is responsible for faba bean rust resistance in the selected

germplasm including Doza. Doza was the first rust resistant

variety released in NSW and has been used widely in the

breeding program as a source of resistance. Post-graduate

studies are underway to characterise different sources of

resistance in faba bean and identify whether they have the

same or different genes for resistance. Identifying new genetic

sources of resistance and utilizing it will assist in preventing rust

epidemics. Faba bean rust, Uromyces viciae-fabae, is an obligate parasite and subject to mutation.

Limited information is available on the pathogen variability in Australia. Pathogen variability is being

examined through a student project collecting and analysing rust samples from different parts of

Australia. . Postgraduate students at Narrabri are also working on radiation frost, drought and

terminal heat - the main abiotic stresses in faba bean in the northern region.

Residual herbicide damage of faba bean north of Narrabri


Chickpea

Nicole Dron, DPI NSW and Merrill Ryan, DAF Qld

Firstly, the Chickpea group would like welcome to the team, and congratulate Kristy Hobson and her

husband on the safe delivery of a beautiful baby girl, Asta Ruby!

The PBA chickpea breeding team has

successfully sown both desi and kabuli

yield trials across five states, within the

target sowing window for each region.

The much needed autumn and early

winter rainfall in northern NSW delayed

sowing on a couple of occasions. Growth

of the later sown crops will be slower due

to colder than average conditions in July.

The wet beginning to the season in some

locations has improved the soil moisture

profile ahead of a predicted El Niño for

late winter. A successful growing season

will be dependent on favourable

conditions heading in to late winter and

spring.

The PBA chickpea program continues to work on producing shorter breeding cycles. Currently, the

team in Tamworth is implementing a poly house screening of seedling Ascochyta blight resistance for

rapid and early detection of resistant breeding lines, and to further differentiate the disease resistance

for resistant and moderately resistant lines. Whilst in its early stages, if it is proven to be successful it

will provide robust and reliable screening methods, independent of the current requirement of

favourable weather conditions for field disease nurseries.

Central Queensland trials (1000 plots) were planted in May and all trials are currently flowering. Trials

were planted at Emerald and Banana and NVTs at Springsure and Jambin (Biloela). Frost hit at

flowering and the season so far has provided little in crop rainfall. All is on track for an early Oct

harvest. Crops to the north of Emerald are particularly suffering from no follow up rain and yields will

likely be compromised.

Southern Qld trials/ nurseries (22 000 plots in total) were planted in June and July and plant

emergence has been good at all 4 sites; Roma, Chinchilla, Goondiwindi and Warwick. Moisture profiles

continue to be adequate across the southern region and the 455 000 ha planted across the entire State

should result in record tonnages in 2015. It is with great regret that we inform the wider community

of the recent retirement of Kris King in July. Kris has served the program for 14 years and been

proudly involved in the release of such varieties as Kyabra, Flipper, Yorker, PBA Pistol, PBA HatTrick,

Moti, PBA Monarch and PBA Boundary. His skill set was extensive and will be greatly missed. His

contribution and tireless efforts have helped shape the industry and collectively we congratulate him on

all his success. Good luck to you and Denise in your retirement.

Ascochyta blight screening for seedling resistance in the NSW DPI Tamworth poly house

Kris King in action with Merrill Ryan and William Martin


Lupin

Jon Clements, Huan Yang, DAFWA

The PBA narrow-leafed lupin breeding program conducts yield trials across four states, comprising 16

sites in WA (Stage 3 and Stage 4 breeding lines, all sown by DAFWA), 11 in NSW, 8 in SA and 3 in

Victoria. Additionally there are 3 breeding program yield trial sites with row and multiplication plots

included at one of those sites. A site at Yanco, NSW is used for seed increase of Stage 2-2 breeding

lines (176 lines in 2015), which supplies seed for promotions to Stage 3 for the next year’s trials in the

eastern states. Mark Richards (NSW DPI), Amanda Pearce and Andrew Ware (PIRSA-SARDI) oversee

eastern states trials as part of the overall program, while in WA, several DAFWA and DAFWA-RSU staff

conduct the Stage 3-4 yield trials. The lupin breeding DAFWA team sow the breeding trial plots and

rows (totalling 30,000 plots this year), along with early generation screenhouses and crossing blocks.

This year, Dr Jason Brand (DEDJTR Vic) is running a single replicate preliminary lupin trial at two sites

in Victoria. This trial is aiming to evaluate Stage 2 material for a wider range of variation than seen in

NVT trials, with the hope of indicating adaptive traits (phenology etc) important for making yield gains

in this specific region.

As noted in the new variety article, a highlight for this year will be the release of WALAN2385 as a new

cultivar for Australian lupin growers. WALAN2385 was bred and progressed by Dr Bevan Buirchell, Dr

Huaan Yang and Dr Jon Clements, along with the Lupin Breeding technical team at DAFWA - Cliff

Staples, Simon Rogers, Michelle Priestley, Leanne Young, Daniel Renshaw, David Robertson, Ryan

Varischetti, Remo Precopio, Tracey Mouritzen, Leigh Smith. It is a line derived from a 2003 cross.

The breeding program continues to benefit from the robust molecular marker system led by Dr Huaan

Yang, DAFWA, with the combined tools of the DAFWA lupin genome sequence, lupin dense map and

SNP array. This work has combined direct marker development by next generation sequencing (NGS),

NGS-based genetic mapping for QTL genes, rapid framework mapping with the Lupin SNP Array, and

marker development by genome sequencing and re-sequencing. DAFWA has re-sequenced the whole

genomes of 12 lupin cultivars and breeding lines, and the re-sequencing data have been regularly

applied to develop diagnostic markers for lupin breeding. These tools facilitate the use of very

applicable markers in the lupin breeding program cycle. Recent work has identified a major QTL for

low seed alkaloid levels. This trait is very important for seed quality in lupin, particularly when it comes

to targeting lupins for new food and health end-uses.

Breeding continues to incorporate the main key traits for narrow-leafed lupin – yield, seed quality (eg.

whole seed protein above 30%, low seed alkaloid levels), disease resistance (anthracnose, phomopsis,

grey spot, brown spot, bean yellow mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus seed transmission), lodging

and pod shattering resistance, and reasonable harvest height. It screens for herbicide tolerances –

particularly metribuzin, but also assesses potential new cultivar releases for a range of lupin registered

herbicides through DAFWA/GRDC-funded herbicide research in WA (Dr Harmohinder Dhammu,

DAFWA).


PULSE RESEARCH NEWS

Mendel’s peas help to accelerate plant breeding

Researchers in The UWA Institute of Agriculture at The University of Western Australia have developed

a new method for breeding crops that will improve the potential for long-term, sustainable genetic

improvement.

In a world first, Professor Wallace Cowling from The UWA Institute of Agriculture and his team have

taken the breeding model commonly used by animal breeders, and implemented it to accelerate

breeding for black spot resistance in S0 (F1) plants of the highly self-pollinating crop Pisum sativum.

Prof Cowling’s team changed the breeding process so that selection occurred on segregating S0 (F1)

progeny. Best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) of breeding value on S0 progeny followed the

principles of the animal model, with a relationship matrix based on information from relatives,

including ancestors, parent plants (S1), selfs of parent plants (S2) and cross (S0) sibs in the pedigree.

They tested the method over two cycles of recurrent selection for black spot resistance and confirmed

low narrow-sense heritability (30-35%) of this trait in P. sativum, the autogamous annual species used

by Mendel to demonstrate the particulate nature of inheritance. Crossing occurred on S1 progeny of

selected S0 plants. High accuracy of predicted breeding values of S0 progeny (average 0.805) in the

next cycle was achieved by including the relationship matrix in the analysis, with selfing in the

pedigree tree, and by combining data across cycles of selection. “Augmented half-sibs” (S2 selfs with

the same S1 mother plant as S0 progeny) improved accuracy of S0 selection. The response to selection

was forecast to be 11.2% in the next cycle with 20% S0 selection proportion, effective population size

>50, and generation interval one or two years.

Professor Cowling said crossing and recombination in self-pollinating crops normally occurs after selfing

and selection of pure lines. “In our research we changed the breeding process to allow ‘crossing before

selfing’ rather than ‘selfing before crossing,” he said. “The method should help retain additive genetic

variance in breeding populations, which is permanently lost with ‘selfing before crossing’.

“This relatively minor change in the practice of plant breeding has accelerated genetic gain and

improved the potential for long-term and sustainable genetic improvement,” Professor Cowling said.

Coupled with new genomic technology, the new breeding method could speed up genetic

improvements for desirable traits such as grain quality and yield.

The research was supported by Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG (NPZ), the

Council of Grain Grower Organisations, and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Contact: Prof Wallace Cowling, The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia:

[email protected] (08) 9367 9151

Reference: Cowling, W.A., Stefanova, K.T., Beeck, C.P., Nelson, M.N., Hargreaves, B.L.W., Sass, O.,

Gilmour, A.R. and K.H.M. Siddique. 2015. Using the animal model to accelerate response to selection

in a self‐pollinating crop. G3‐Genes Genomes Genetics 5:1419-1428.

Open-access article available: http://g3journal.org/content/5/7/1419.full.pdf+html


http://g3journal.org/content/5/7/1419.full.pdf+html


Field-screening for crop adaptation to heat stress in

chickpea: untangling confounded effects of sowing date

trials

V.O. Sadras1, V. Vadez2, L. Lake1, H. Marrou3, R. Purushothaman2 1 South Australian Research and Development Institute, Australia 2 Crop Physiology Laboratory, ICRISAT, Patancheru 502324, Telangana, India

3 Montpellier Supagro, UMR System, bât. 27, 2 Place Viala 34060 Montpellier Cedex 02, France

We need reliable methods to screen genotypes adapted to

elevated temperature. Sowing date experiments are

practical and inexpensive but confounded factors limit their

value. First, mean temperature correlates with both

minimum and maximum temperature, photoperiod,

radiation and vapour pressure deficit, and it may also

correlate with rainfall. Second, temperature alters the

genotype-dependent phenology of crops, effectively shifting

the timing and duration of critical periods against the

background of temperature and other environmental

variables.

Our aim is to advance a framework to untangle the

confounded effects of sowing date experiments; it is based

on four physiological concepts: (1) annuals accommodate

environmental variation through seed number; (2) seed number is determined in species-specific

developmental windows; (3) non-stressful thermal effects affecting seed set through development and

canopy size can be integrated in a photothermal quotient (PTQ), (4) stressful temperature reduces

yield by disrupting reproduction.

The framework was tested in a factorial experiment combining four chickpea varieties and five

environments resulting from the combination of seasons and sowing dates. The environment-driven,

genotype-dependent shifts in phenology led to different conditions in the critical window (between

flowering and 400 Cd after flowering) for each variety-environment combination. Yield ranged from 13

to 577 g m-2. The PTQ explained 50% of yield variation and maximum temperature for 32% of the

remaining variation. Thus, half of the variation in yield was associated with developmental, non-

stressful photothermal effect and (at most) 16% of the variation was attributable to thermal stress.

The PTQ corrected by vapour pressure deficit explained 75% of the variation in yield and provides

further insight on photosynthesis-mediated responses to temperature.

Crop adaptation to non-stressful, developmental thermal

effects and stressful temperatures disrupting reproduction

involve different physiological processes and requires

partially different agronomic and breeding solutions. Our

analytical approach partially separates these effects, adds

value to sowing date trials, and is likely to return more

meaningful rankings of varieties.

Acknowledgement This work was funded by GRDC and Australia-India Strategic

Research Fund. For details, see the full paper in Field Crops

Research 2015.

Part of the ICRISAT research team, Dr R.

Purushothaman (RHS) with his Technician.

Genetic variation in field trials at ICRISAT


2014 field trial yield results comparing IMI-1 and IMI-3 to control cultivar Nura across different classes of imidazolinone chemistries at low, medium and high rates

Improving Weed Management in Pulses – Project Update!

Dili Mao, Larn McMurray, Jeff Paull, Chris Preston, Tim Sutton, Shi Yang – SARDI & The University of Adelaide

The GRDC funded project DAS00131, continuing from DAS00107, has made significant progress in

developing and evaluating germplasm for agronomically useful levels of herbicide tolerance in a

number of crops including faba bean, lentil and chickpea.

Faba bean germplasm with improved tolerance to the Group B (imidazolinone and sulfonylurea)

herbicides were first selected from mass field screening of a mutagenized M2 population in 2011.

From there, progeny screen and dose response experiments showed high levels of tolerance to a

number of the imidazolinone herbicides in three selections, IMI-1, IMI-2, IMI-3, with one of these

selections, IMI-3, also showing improved levels of tolerance to a number of the sulfonylurea

herbicides.

Agronomic field trials were held at two locations in SA during the 2014 season, and compared two of

the tolerant selections, IMI-1 and IMI-3, to control cultivar Nura. Four classes of imidazolinone

chemistries and a common tank mixture of two of these were applied at the 5 node growth stage at

low, medium and high rates. Both selections showed no significant yield loss at all rates except for

IMI-1 at the high rate of imazapic, confirming high levels of field tolerance and crop safety to most of

these chemistries.

In addition, the GRDC funded Southern Region Pulse Agronomy project DAV00113 is conducting field

trials during the 2015 season to explore the imidazolinone tolerant faba bean and lentil germplasm for

agronomically useful levels of improved tolerance to soil residues of sulfonylurea herbicides.

Imidazolinone tolerant selections IMI-1 and IMI-3 have been rapidly and successfully integrated into

PBA Faba Bean germplasm since initial single-plant field selections in 2011. The PBA faba bean

program found promising results in the 2014 season in Stage 1 trials comparing progeny of crosses

between imidazolinone tolerant selections and elite breeding material. Yields and agronomic

performance of these crosses were found to be similar to adjacent breeding material and the best of

these were progressed to more widespread evaluation in Stage 2 PBA trials for the 2015 season.

In lentils two selections, 11SVHM043 and 12PAHM009, were developed through mutagenesis

techniques and confirmed to have high levels of metribuzin (Group C) tolerance in progeny and dose

response screening. Further, the line SP1333 was selected for improved metribuzin tolerance

following the screening of germplasm, using methods developed in DAS00107, and was identified to

have an intermediate level of metribuzin tolerance in progeny and dose response screening.

LSD (5%) nil low

medium high

LSD (5%) nil low

medium high

LSD (5%) nil low medium

high

LSD (5%) nil low

medium high

LSD (5%) nil low

medium high


Preliminary field evaluation of this germplasm in row trials was conducted in 2014 by Larn while

undertaking his PhD in Canada at the University of Saskatchewan. The three selections were

compared with 20 Canadian and Australian commercial lines in Saskatoon, with SP1333 showing

improved levels of tolerance and the two mutant selections showing a very high level of improvement

in tolerance compared to all checks. Further multiplication occurred in Australia and these selections

are currently being evaluated under Australian field conditions, with early results confirming the

Canadian findings and indicating a useful level of field tolerance compared to the control, PBA Flash.

All selections are currently being incorporated into the PBA lentil breeding program, including targeted

crosses with the IMI tolerant lentil lines, with the aim of developing dual herbicide tolerant lentil

germplasm. The most advanced of these lines are in preliminary field rows at Horsham this year.

Molecular markers have been developed for both the imidazolinone faba bean and lentil events as well

as the metribuzin lentil (mutant selections only) and are currently being validated to confirm trait

association for implementation into PBA breeding programs.

In addition, during the 2014 season, a number of single plant selections were made from the mass

field screening of a mutagenized M2 population of chickpeas. Preliminary progeny screening has shown

high levels of Group I tolerance in a number of selections and these selections are currently being

multiplied for further testing as well as simultaneously being incorporated into the PBA chickpea

breeding program.

In the current 2015 season, the group hopes to identify further tolerance to a different group of

herbicide in chickpeas, and is looking forward to scouting over 40ha’s of M3 chickpea in the coming

weeks!

2015 Australian field trials, comparing the response of PBA Flash, SP1333, 11SVHM043 and 12PAHM009 at a high rate of metribuzin applied at the 5 node stage, 3 weeks after spraying.


Improving pulse yield under drought and temperature

stress – current progress and the 2015 season

V.O. Sadras & Lachlan Lake, SARDI

For the 2015 cropping season we have three separate trials running at Roseworthy, and Riverton.

Drought adaptive traits in chickpea - Roseworthy

The drought adaptive traits in chickpea trial follows the trials in 2013 and 2014 where we monitored

the response of 20 chickpea lines to four different environments. The four environments were a

combination of sowing date and water regimes designed to achieve yield close to potential, terminal

drought, terminal heat and a combination of both terminal drought and heat. In 2015 we are using

the same environments but focusing on seven of the most contrasting lines to increase the intensity of

measurements. Sowing dates were 9 June (recommended) and 7 July (late). Early-sown crops were

either irrigated, or rainfed until late July, then covered with rainout shelters to induce drought. Late

sown crops are either irrigated or rainfed.

We will measure phenology on a weekly basis to determine time to flowering, pod emergence, end of

flowering and maturity. A ceptometer will be used to measure radiation interception and RUE. We will

also measure crop growth rate and biomass (using the Greenseeker – Ntech Industries, coupled with

5-7 biomass cuts) and examine canopy temperature, stomatal conductance and N fixation. Leaf

senescence will be monitored during grain fill. Mature crops will be hand-harvested to determine yield

components including plant biomass, pod number, pod weight, seed per pod, seed weight, seed

number, harvest index (seed weight/biomass) and pod wall ratio (pod and seed weight/seed weight).

Temperature and rainfall variables will also be monitored using Tinytags, soil probes and data from the

nearest available weather station.

Table 1. Chickpea lines used for drought adaptive traits.

Line Grain type

CICA1229 Desi

Genesis836 Desi

PBA Boundary Desi

PBA HatTrick Desi

PBA Striker Desi

CICA0857 Kabuli

PBA Pistol Desi

QTL analysis of pod wall ratio trait in fieldpea – Roseworthy and Riverton

Using two different recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping populations we aim to conduct QTL analysis

of pod wall ratio trait in field pea, which we previously identified as being related to yield in both stress

and non-stress environments. We are also phenotyping for phenology and other traits potentially

related to yield under stress.

RIL 1: Excel x Kaspa - Roseworthy

The QTL analysis of pod wall ratio trait in field pea RIL population 1 trial from 2014 Snowtown provided

enough seed to sow a replicated trial at Roseworthy in 2015 consisting of 118 RILs and 2 parents. In

this trial we will collect phenotype data which will be used in conjunction with genetic analysis to

determine the basis for the pod wall ratio trait. Phenotype data will include phenology on a weekly

basis to determine time to flowering, pod emergence, end of flowering and maturity and yield and

components. Mature crops will be hand-harvested to determine plant biomass, pod number, pod

weight, seed per pod, seed weight, seed number, harvest index (seed weight/biomass) and pod wall

ratio (pod and seed weight/seed weight).

2015 Roseworthy chickpea trial sown into standing barley

stubble, with temperature and humidity monitor


RIL 2: Excel x 03H160-04HO2001 - Riverton

The cross made between Excel x 03H160-04HO2001 produced 250 RILs which have been sown at

Riverton to multiply seed and provide some initial phenotyping data for the trait pod wall ratio as well

as phenology and other yield components. In 2016 we expect to sow a full replicated trial for

phenotyping and genetic analysis.

.

PBA Program Leader Contacts

Lentils

Dr Matthew Rodda

DEPI Victoria

03 5362 2316

[email protected]

Field peas

Dr Garry Rosewarne

DPI Victoria

03 5362 2346

[email protected]

Chickpeas

Dr Kristy Hobson

NSW DPI

02 6763 1179

[email protected]

Faba Beans

Dr Jeff Paull

University of Adelaide

08 8303 6564

[email protected]

Lupins

Dr Jon Clements

DAFWA

08 9368 3653

[email protected]

Pulse Germplasm Enhancement Program

Dr Phil Davies

SARDI

08 8303 9494

[email protected]

Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) is an unincorporated joint venture between:

Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria (DEPI Vic) South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Queensland (DAFF QLD) New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) University of Adelaide Pulse Australia University of Sydney and Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC).

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Please contact: Fleur Winter, PBA Coordinator [email protected] ph: 0417 926 033

Back copies of the PBA newsletter are available on the PBA webpage

Construction of the rainout shelter in 2014


Documents

Winter 15 - GRDC · evidence on the importance of pulses for food security, nutrition and sustainable farming in support of the campaign. One projects underway is a comprehensive