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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(4)

Developing birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) varieties for permanent pasture applications in low latitude regions of eastern Australia

J. F. Ayres A E F , W. M. Kelman B , S. G. Wiedemann C , L. A. Lane A and B. E. McCorkell D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Perennial Grazing Systems, Glen Innes, NSW 2370, Australia.

B CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

C FSA Consulting, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

D NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Institute, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.

E Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.

F Corresponding author. Email: john.ayres@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(4) 488-498 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA07114
Submitted: 24 April 2007  Accepted: 15 October 2007   Published: 7 March 2008

Abstract

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is a potentially important alternative legume for recharge landscapes in the high rainfall zone in eastern Australia. However, in the summer rainfall region in northern New South Wales (NSW) where birdsfoot trefoil has the greatest potential application, flowering and seed set are limited by short daylength. Consequently, existing birdsfoot trefoil cultivars do not set enough seed to develop a seedbank that sustains a productive persistent stand. A breeding program was undertaken to develop birdsfoot trefoil cultivars adapted to short photoperiod to increase the area sown to deep-rooted perennials in the grazing lands in eastern Australia. Three new birdsfoot trefoil experimental varieties, Phoenix, Venture and Matador, were developed through: (1) phenotypic selection within cv. Grasslands Goldie for flowering intensity and pod set, (2) phenotypic selection for these same traits in a broader sample of 49 world-sourced lines, and (3) selection for prostrate growth habit among progeny of pair-crosses between erect and prostrate accessions identified as productive in southern NSW. Following two cycles of selection for flowering prolificacy and pod set, the average number of umbels per stem in the Goldie-derived populations was five times greater than in the commercial Goldie population; this response to selection closely approximated the predicted response based on previous estimates of heritability and phenotypic variance for this trait. In comparison with Goldie, the Syn1 and Syn2 populations of the three experimental varieties consistently expressed earlier flowering maturity and higher seed yield potential in glasshouse and field trials in northern NSW. While germination rate and seedling vigour of the three experimental varieties was slightly less than Goldie, intensive selection pressure on reproductive traits did not compromise seasonal herbage production.

Additional keywords: cultivar development, perennial legume, plant breeding.


Acknowledgements

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO Plant Industry provided staff and infrastructure resources for development of the breeding lines. The authors are grateful to Emma Wilson, Regina Knight and Len Doust (NSW DPI), and Phillip Veness and Scott McDonald (CSIRO) for technical support; to Carmen Elvins (NSW DPI) for assistance with preparation of the manuscript; and, we especially acknowledge John Ryan (NSW DPI) for managing contractual arrangements and commercialisation processes during the cultivar development phase. The study was partially funded by Meat and Livestock Australia, the NSW Government ‘Acid Soil Action Program’ and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. The research was also supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity.


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