South Perth, Western Australia
May 25, 2009
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Darkan farmer Ray Harrington with his dog Roundup is
happy with the new lupin variety Jenabillup |
The Department of
Agriculture and Food’s new lupin variety Jenabillup
is helping keep lupins in high rainfall cropping rotations.
Low yields associated with black pod syndrome nearly forced
Darkan farmer Ray Harrington to abandon lupins from his rotation
if not for the ability of Jenabillup to withstand the disease.
In some seasons black pod syndrome can shave up to 40 per cent
off the yield potential of lupins in high rainfall areas.
In a 2008 demonstration trial by the Darkan Farm Improvement
Group, Jenabillup produced more than two tonnes of seed per
hectare – five times more than the susceptible variety Belara,
which struggled to yield just 400 kilograms per hectare.
Department lupin breeder Bevan Buirchell said Jenabiillup was
consistently the least affected by black pod syndrome among
lupin varieties and breeding lines. But how it withstood the
syndrome was currently unknown.
“We need to understand how Jenabillup resists black pod syndrome
so that we can more accurately breed resistant lupin varieties
suited to high rainfall areas,” Dr Buirchell said.
“For years breeders and agronomists have suspected black pod
syndrome may be caused by infection with bean yellow mosaic
virus (BYMV), which is harboured in pastures in southern Western
Australia.
“We know that all lupins are susceptible to BYMV infection, but
that some varieties like Jenabillup are able to withstand it for
longer. The benefit of this is that late infections do not get a
chance to express themselves in the crop before the season
ends.”
To test their suspicions, Dr Buirchell and legume agronomist
Peter White will infect Jenabillup and susceptible variety
Mandelup with BYMV at varying growth stages during the 2009
season and measure how long it takes for black pod syndrome to
be expressed.
“The trial will establish whether there is a definite link
between BYMV infection and the development of black pod syndrome
and, whether Mandelup and Jenabillup respond differently to the
virus when they are infected at the same time,” Dr Buirchell
said.
“If we can establish a distinct link between BYMV and black pod
syndrome we will be a step closer to eventually being able to
screen lupin breeding lines for resistance.”
Results from the trial will be available in late 2009. |
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