Assessing progress in breeding to improve grain yield, quality and blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) resistance in selected Australian canola cultivars (1978–2012)
Trent Potter A B K , Wayne Burton C D , Jan Edwards E F , Neil Wratten G , Rod Mailer G H , Phil Salisbury I J and Amanda Pearce AA South Australian Research and Development Institute, PO Box 618, Naracoorte, SA 5271, Australia.
B Present address: Yeruga Crop Research, PO Box 819, Naracoorte, SA 5271, Australia.
C Victorian DPI, Private Bag, Horsham, Vic. 3400, Australia.
D Present address: Seednet Australia, 110 Natimuk Road, Horsham, Vic. 3402, Australia.
E New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 129, Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia.
F Present address: Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), PO Box 5367, Kingston, ACT 2604, Australia.
G New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
H Present address: Australian Oils Research, 130 Elder Street, Lambton, NSW 2650, Australia.
I Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
J Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia.
K Corresponding author. Email: trent@yeruga.com.au
Crop and Pasture Science 67(4) 308-316 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP15290
Submitted: 2 September 2015 Accepted: 4 March 2016 Published: 6 May 2016
Abstract
Canola breeding in Australia began in the early 1970s with the first cultivars being released in the late 1970s. Thirty-four non-herbicide-tolerant canola cultivars, released in Australia between 1978 and 2012, were evaluated for improvements in yield, quality, blackleg resistance and adaptation to Australian environments. The cultivars were sown at three sites in 2008 and one site in 2014. In addition, blackleg susceptibility was assessed in two independent blackleg experiments in 2008. Yield improvement averaged 21.8 kg ha–1 year–1 (1.25% year–1) but ranged from 8 to 39.1 kg ha–1 year–1 at the lowest to the highest yielding sites, respectively. Although the yield gain shown by our study was for conventional canola only, the different herbicide-tolerant types are derived by incorporating the herbicide tolerance genes into Australian germplasm and so the rate of genetic gain would be expected to be similar for all herbicide tolerance types. Oil and protein concentrations have increased by 0.09% year–1 and 0.05% year–1, respectively, whereas glucosinolate concentration was reduced to between 7 and 16 μmoles per gram of meal by the mid-1990s. Cultivars released before 2002 all had low to moderate resistance to the blackleg isolates present in the fields during the experimental period but more recent releases had improved survival under heavy blackleg pressure due to the incorporation of additional or different resistance genes. The data suggests that at least 25% of the yield improvement achieved by the breeding programs over 30 years was associated with improved blackleg resistance and the remainder with gains in other aspects of potential grain yield. The private breeding companies in Australia will need to continue to produce cultivars with high yield potential and deploy blackleg resistance genes wisely in order to maintain the yield improvements required to remain competitive in global markets.
Additional keyword: historical cultivars.
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