Characteristics of greater lotus (Lotus uliginosus) populations grown under low latitude conditions in eastern Australia
J. F. Ayres A D , W. M. Kelman B , B. E. McCorkell C and L. A. Lane AA NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Perennial Grazing Systems, Glen Innes, NSW 2370, Australia.
B CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Research Institute, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: john.ayres@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(1) 17-24 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05338
Submitted: 18 December 2005 Accepted: 15 May 2006 Published: 2 January 2007
Abstract
A study undertaken in northern New South Wales characterised and assessed a collection of 10 greater lotus (Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr) cultivars and breeding lines, comprising diploid and tetraploid populations with a range of Mediterranean parentage. Vegetative characteristics and seasonal herbage growth were measured under glasshouse conditions and reproductive characterisation was undertaken in the field. Results show a high degree of variability between the lines in leaf and stem characteristics, and narrow but useful diversity in seed yield components. The diploid populations, Sharnae, LUX97 and BLG4704, which have high levels of Mediterranean parentage, expressed high year-round growth performance, and Sharnae was exceptionally high in cool-season growth. These lines set more seed than the cultivars Grasslands Maku and Grasslands Sunrise under the low latitude conditions tested. These findings indicate a potential for cultivar development to expand greater lotus usage into low latitude environments.
Acknowledgements
This project was a component of the ‘Acid Soil Action Program’ funded by the New South Wales Government. The authors are grateful for the technical support provided by Emma Wilson, Regina Knight and Len Doust; for comments on the manuscript by Professor Haydn Lloyd Davies; and to Carmen Elvins for preparation of the manuscript. We are especially grateful to: Dr Warren Williams (AgResearch Ltd) and Frances Wilson (NZ Agriseeds Limited) for providing seed of breeding lines and generously contributing ideas; and to Michael Duncan (Coordinator, Acid Soil Action Program) for encouragement and support without which the research would not have been undertaken.
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