
%0 Journal Article
%A Latta, RA 
%A Quigley, PE 
%T A comparison of the persistence of <I>Medicago truncatula</I> cv. Paraggio with other annual medics in the Victorian Mallee
%J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
%D 1993/07/01
%V 33
%N 4
%P 443-449
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9930443
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA9930443 
%X The annual medic Medicago truncatula cv. Paraggio has been widely sown in pastures throughout the Victorian Mallee region; however, its ability to persist in cereal pasture rotations is not known. Seed permeability and production, and plant regeneration of Paraggio, were studied in the field over 4 years, and the changes in its seed reserve were examined under 3 different cereal-pasture rotations. When compared with medic cvv. Parabinga, Harbinger, and Jemalong, Paraggio had up to twice the level of permeable seed over the summer-autumn period in 2 years (7-36% v. 2.5-19%). Paraggio produced 336-928 kg/ha of seed over 3 years, and after seed production was halted, it regenerated at densities of 150-1438 plants/m2 over the next 4 years. These results were generally the same as, or better than, the other cultivars. When seed set occurred in 1 and 2 years in the pasture phase of a 2- and 3-year rotation, respectively, Paraggio seed reserves were maintained at >4000 seeds/m2. This study demonstrated that Paraggio resulted in superior plant densities when grown in a number of typical rotations. It persisted satisfactorily and is expected to improve agricultural productivity in shor-tterm cereal-pasture rotations. 
