Underperforming lupins on the south coast could be a thing of the past with the development of better adapted varieties by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Dr Jairo Palta (CSIRO) and Mike Baker (DAFWA) and co-author of the paper examining lupin plants at the trial

Researcher Peter White said recent trials involving the advanced breeding line WALAN2224 showed its dominance in areas prone to black pod syndrome (BPS), a common disorder on the south coast.

Speaking at the Department’s annual Agribusiness Crop Updates, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Mr White said lupins had a reputation of yielding below their potential in the southern agricultural regions of Western Australia. 

“From our observations, yield potential can exceed 4.0 t/ha, but harvested yields are often less than 2.0 t/ha. In the past we have put this down to excess vegetative growth causing poor pod set and low harvest index,” Mr White said.

“The more recent discovery of black pod syndrome, where pods turn brown or black prematurely with poorly developed seeds, looks to be another cause of the low and variable yields produced by lupins on the south coast.”

Mr White said research trials in the Esperance region in 2006 investigated if there were any advanced breeding lines with potential for release as varieties that had higher tolerance to BPS than Mandelup.

”WALAN2224 produced more than 30 per cent higher yield than Mandelup in situations where BPS was severe and may be suitable for release on the south coast,” he said.

“At podding, many plants showed symptoms of blackening and some plants had died. About 2 to 5 times more plants of Tallerack and Mandelup were blackened compared with Quilinock, WALAN2224 or WALAN2235.

“Fewer plants of Tallerack and Mandelup also survived to maturity than for Quillinock, WALAN2224 or WALAN2235.”

Mr White said WALAN 2224 produced the highest grain yield of all genotypes. Tallerack, on average, produced the lowest yields and Mandelup the second lowest. However, Tallerack and Mandelup had higher numbers of pods than Quilinock, WALAN2224 or WALAN2235.

“WALAN2224, WALAN2235, and Quilinock have a higher level of resistance to BPS than Mandelup and are likely to be superior genotypes for environments where BPS is prevalent,” Mr White said.

“The high yields and low level of blackening seen for these genotypes in this trial is consistent with results from CVT trials from 2004 to 2006.”