Australia
October 3, 2008
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Steve
Moore, Officer in Charge of the IA Watson Grains
Research Centre at Narrabri, and for many years leader
of the central/northern NSW and southern Qld field pea
assessment and agronomy program, in September 2008
checking the outstanding new field pea variety Maki.
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“With the release of more
adaptable high yielding and improved disease resistant
varieties, field peas could easily become a 50,000 ha crop in
central and northern New South Wales and the southern Queensland
cropping zone. Maki (previously designated AP18), the latest
release from the region, is a giant step forward for field peas
and increases the reliability and performance of the crop in a
big way”.
These are the views of Steve Moore, Officer in Charge of the IA
Watson Grains Research Centre at Narrabri, and for many years
leader of the central/northern NSW and southern Qld field pea
assessment and agronomy program.
High yield and disease resistance
Extensive testing throughout the region has shown Maki to
out-yield other varieties, including the first major
breakthrough of the program, Yarrum, released in 2005. Maki has
out-yielded Yarrum by around 10 percent. It yielded 176 percent
of popular southern Australian variety Kaspa throughout the
region last season.
There is currently no official yield data for southern NSW or
Victoria although some preliminary results indicate its possible
suitability over many of these districts.
A feature of Maki is its high and stable yield; due in part to
its ability to set multiple pods on the same flowering node.
Earlier flowering than most southern varieties, resistance to
powdery mildew, tolerance to downy mildew, resistance to pea
seed borne mosaic virus (sbm 1) useful tolerance to bean leaf
roll virus and resistance to Fusarium wilt Race 1 are all
believed to be important contributors to improved performance
and reliability of Maki believes Steve Moore.
It appears to be well adapted to areas as far west as Walgett,
Nyngan and Condobolin, east to the Liverpool planes, south to
Forbes, north into southern and south western Qld and many areas
in-between.
Powdery mildew is a major disease of field pea throughout much
of Australia, particularly in the region north of Parkes and
Dubbo. Yarrum and now Maki have stable powdery mildew resistance
and have largely eliminated this risk.
Various virus diseases are a particular threat to all pulse
crops, especially in higher rainfall areas and years. While Maki
is by no means resistant to all virus threats its resistance to
seed borne mosaic virus is a big step forward.
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Other variety features
Maki combines good lodging tolerance and is a very erect
variety; these features generally improve harvestability and
grain quality.
Maki is a mid season maturity semi leafless white flowered
variety. In an area like Narrabri when sown around mid May
(desirable sowing window varies for region but for Narrabri type
environments it is mid May to mid June) Maki normally flowers
for 6 weeks from mid August onwards.
It is classified as a green seeded blue pea. Maki has low hard
seed count, a desirable agronomic and quality trait. Seed has a
low bleach score, also a desirable quality feature.
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Variety Development
Maki was bred by New Zealand Company Plant Research (NZ) Ltd
(Adrian Russell Managing Director and Principal Breeder) and
selected at the Narrabri University of Sydney Plant Breeding
Institute.
NZ Plant Research Ltd is a leader in field pea breeding (as well
as other crops) with their developed varieties popular in
several nations including the USA and Canada. Their laboratories
and screening facilities allow for accurate screening for
diseases and attributes important to Australia. Their access to
a wide range of international field pea germplasm enables them
to identify lines with traits essential for the Australian
environment.
The combined Sydney University and NZ Plant Research Ltd program
(beginning in 1997) ensures varieties are selected for
Australian conditions. Speed of variety development is also
enhanced by the cooperative program. Three generations in the
field are possible each year (includes sites in NZ, Australia
and USA).
Markets
Maki is suitable for stock feed and human consumption markets.
Both field pea human consumption and stockfeed markets are
important world export as well as domestic industries. Tests on
Australian grown seed confirm that Maki has a low level of
trypsin inhibitor – an important consideration when used for
feed.
It is understood that there is a current demand for at least
5,000mt annually for a human consumption market in Queensland.
Field pea is a highly regarded animal feed. Pork producers and
stockfeed companies, particularly in Northern NSW and
Queensland, are continually looking for flexible high quality
protein sources such as field peas to be included in their pig
diets. Beef cattle producers are increasingly appreciating the
benefits of supplementary feeding with demand for high protein
supplements such as field peas expected to increase. Already
industries like pork, beef and lamb feed-lotting, dairying and
poultry require a steadily increasing demand for high protein
feeds.
Availability
Commercial quantise of Maki seed will be available from 2009 for
NSW and Qld through AGT
Seeds, phone 02 6881 6210.
Future variety developments
Plant Research (NZ) Ltd are confident further substantial
progress will be made with improving resistance to the multitude
of viruses that affect pulse crops like field peas. Further
improvements in heat tolerance, yield, agronomic type, and
resistance to various diseases are in the pipeline.
Some field pea agronomy considerations
While field peas are not envisaged as an alternative crop to
chickpeas or faba beans, they do improve the pulse crop option
as part of the rotation. Research indicates they can build soil
nitrogen second only to faba beans, they have a wide sowing
window and suit a wide range of soils including slightly acidic
to alkaline. They provide useful stubble cover if not grazed
until close to sowing, suit sowing into heavy loads of cereal
stubble, and are regarded as drought hardy second to perhaps
only well managed cereals.
Field peas also have a wide range of herbicides suited to
in-crop use. They also have excellent tolerance/resistance to
the two known main nematodes species common throughout the
cropping belt (Pratylenchus thornei and P. neglectus) and
therefore the crop offers additional rotational benefits.
Other research and funding partners
Pork Cooperative Research Centre (Pork CRC) provides funding to
the Narrabri based field pea program as part of their innovative
grain production sub-program. The sub-program aims to enhance
the production of commercial quantities of cereals and pulses
(including field peas) that have high yield, cost-effective
agronomy and acceptable nutritional characteristics for pigs.
The University of Sydney is also funded by Pulse Breeding
Australia as the northern evaluation node for field pea in this
region.
GRDC (Grains Research and Development Corporation) fund the
National Variety Testing scheme (NVT) across the nation,
including field peas. Maki (AP18) is being evaluated in NVT
trials in 2008. GRDC have also funded field pea variety
assessment and agronomy studies in conjunction with Sydney
University in the northern GRDC region since 1997.
Licence
Maki is licensed to
Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) and will be marketed by
the company.
Plant Breeders Rights
Maki is protected by PBR and all production (except seed saved
for planting) is liable to an End Point Royalty (EPR) which
funds future field pea research and evaluation. Maki growers
will be subject to a Growers license that acknowledges an EPR
has to be paid on all production other than seed retained for
their own planting.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this release is based on knowledge
and understanding at the time of writing. Growers should be
aware of the need to regularly consult with their advisors on
local conditions and currency of information.
For further information:
www.ausgraintech.com; phone 02 6881 6210 or 08 8308 7708.
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