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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(8)

Adaptation of sulla cultivars to contrasting Mediterranean environments

P. Annicchiarico A G , A. Abdelguerfi B , M. Ben Younes C , H. Bouzerzour D , A. M. Carroni E , L. Pecetti A and G. Tibaoui F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A C.R.A. - Centro di ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie, viale Piacenza 29, 26900 Lodi, Italy.

B Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 2 rue des Frères Ouadek, El Harrach, Alger, Algeria.

C Institution de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur Agronomique, 7100 Le Kef, Tunisia.

D Département de Biologie, Université de Sétif, Sétif, Algeria.

E C.R.A. - Unità di ricerca per i Sistemi Agropastorali in Ambiente Mediterraneo, 09025 Sanluri, Italy.

F Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture, 7030 Mateur, Tunisia.

G Corresponding author. Email: bred@iscf.it

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59(8) 702-706 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR08001
Submitted: 2 January 2008  Accepted: 13 May 2008   Published: 29 July 2008

Abstract

Sulla coronaria (L.) Choi & Ohashi (syn. Hedysarum coronarium L.) may become a major forage species in various Mediterranean-climate areas. This study aimed to assess the extent of genotype × environment (GE) interaction in the western Mediterranean region and its implications for breeding programmes. The milestone Italian varieties Grimaldi and Sparacia, one recent Italian variety, and the Tunisian cv. D’Italie (evolved under moderately favourable conditions from Italian germplasm introduced about 40 years ago) were evaluated in three environments of Tunisia (of which two were irrigated), two of Algeria, and one of Sardinia (Italy). Water available over the crop cycle (rainfall + possible irrigation from October 2004 to June 2006), ranging from 881 to 1906 mm, accounted for 85% of the variation among environments and 72% of the GE interaction variation for dry matter yield. The latter was adequately described by one-covariate factorial regression, which was preferable to joint regression and additive main effects and multiplicative interaction modelling. D’Italie was specifically adapted to environments with available water exceeding 1200 mm, Grimaldi was top-ranking between 950 and 1200 mm, and Sparacia below 950 mm. The crossover GE interaction between top-yielding material (P < 0.05) has implications for adaptation targets, genetic resources, selection environments, and opportunities for international co-operation between breeding programmes. It suggests breeding either for rainfed cropping in semi-arid or near semi-arid environments, or for definitely subhumid or irrigated environments.

Additional keywords: breeding strategy, drought tolerance, forage yield, genotype × environment interaction, genetic resources.


Acknowledgments

The research was funded by the European Union within the project ‘Improvement of native perennial forage plants for sustainability of Mediterranean farming systems’ (PERMED). We are indebted to F. Lelièvre for his commitment in co-ordinating the project and to L. Guesmi, L. Fraschini, A. Khedim, H.E. Khelifi, A. Longu and P. Manunza for their contribution to the experimental work.


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