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BEANSTALK Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Newsletter

Volume 9, No.1 July 2008

CLIMA COLLABORATION FLOURISHES IN NORTH INDIA

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BEANSTALKJuly 2008 Volume 9, No 1

Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Newsletter

Adj Prof Neil Turner (CLIMA), Dr Gurmeet Singh Buttar, (Director, PAU Regional Research Station, Bathinda), Dr Paramjit Singh (PAU, Bathinda), Dr L Krishnamurthy (ICRISAT), Dr Guriqbal Singh (PAU, Ludhiana) and Dr Jagmeet Kaur (PAU, Ludhiana) looking at salinity/sodicity tolerant chickpeas in a saline field in Bathinda, Punjab.

Adj. Profs Tanveer Khan and Neil Turner and Mr Alan Harris visited the north Indian State of Punjab during the first week of April. They were joined by Dr Pooran Gaur and Dr L. Krishnamurthy, scientists from the International Crop Research Centre for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in relation to various WA related projects at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh. The projects cover chickpea breeding, salinity tolerance and chilling tolerance in chickpea.

At PAU, Adj. Prof. Khan and Mr Harris recorded agronomic data and ascochyta blight resistance on over 1700 lines bred for WA by ICRISAT. As a result of this work, a set of resistant lines will be further developed in WA. The three WA visitors also examined a trial involving chilling tolerant germplasm. Various researchers at PAU generously gave their time to showing and discussing their experiments on agronomy, physiology, entomology and inter-specific hybridisation in chickpea.

Adj. Prof. Turner and Dr Krishnamurthy evaluated an experiment at PAU in which lines

of chickpea selected for differences in salinity tolerance at ICRISAT were being screened for their tolerance to salinity in the lighter soils and longer-season environment of the Punjab. Some of these lines have also been sent to WA for evaluation under local saline conditions. All the lines yielded poorly when exposed to salinity in both salinised Punjab soil in pots at PAU and in naturally-saline conditions in the field. At the field site, sodicity may be a problem. The lighter soil at PAU appeared to have induced a greater degree of water and salt stress than in the heavier soils of ICRISAT and the soils in WA. Adj. Prof Turner also spent time visiting the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi to discuss drought resistance in chickpea with scientists from the Divisions of Genetics and Plant Physiology, who have been collaborating with Australia for some years.

Adj. Prof. Khan and Mr Harris also visited the Botany Department of the Panjab University, Chandigarh and examined a pot experiment on chilling tolerance in chickpea germplasm and discussed the related work on anatomical and physiological aspects of chilling tolerance.

by Adj. Prof. Tanveer Khan, Adj. Prof. Neil Turner and Mr Alan Harris

The final leg of their journey was at the Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre (HAREC), Dhaula Kuan, situated in the Himalayan foothills at an altitude of 440 m ASL. This was hosted by the Senior Plant Pathologist Dr Ashwani Basandrai who visited CLIMA some time ago on an ACIAR project on botrytis grey mould of chickpea. The moderate and cooler climate of HAREC offers potential for screening and selecting for resistance for a range of diseases of cool-season crops and our partner ICRISAT is developing collaboration with this Centre.

The humble beginnings that started with a visit by Prof. Kadambot Siddique in January 2004 who recognised the potential for joint work, have now flourished into active collaboration between DAFWA, CLIMA, ICRISAT, CSIRO, the Australian Research Council, COGGO (Council of Grain Grower Organisations) and DEST (now known as Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) in three chickpea breeding and related projects at ICRISAT, PAU and PU.

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Contents

FEATURE ARTICLE

CLIMA collaboration flourishes in north India .........................................................1

DIRECTOR’S REPORT .......................2

STAFF MOVEMENTS .........................3

RESEARCH REPORTS

New forecasting models ..............................3

New bladder clover cultivar .....................4

East Timor project .........................................5

Global Seed Vault ............................................5

VISITORS

Dr Fang from China ........................................6

Building links with Eritrea ..............................7

Visitors table ................................................10

REPORTS ON CONFERENCES

Legume conference ......................................8

Crop Science conference .........................9

Publications .............................................11

What’s new on the web .................12

New arrival ..............................................12



DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Prof. William [email protected]

It gives me great pleasure to contribute to the CLIMA Newsletter for the first time in my capacity as the Director. From outside Australia and from the perspective of my former workplace at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Aleppo, Syria, CLIMA is perceived as an outstanding legume research organization, with strong international links and a good record of combining science with delivery. This combination of science, practicality and internationality were important in my own personal choice of applying for the Directorship. I have not been disappointed since my arrival, but there is always much to be done at CLIMA regarding the future.

Sustainable Food SystemsThe price of food in general and fossil fuel in particular, continues to rise. This growing season in Western Australia, growers have maximized their sowing of wheat, barley and canola; and the lupin and pulse areas are less than in the recent past. This should ensure a good price for the pulses. Inorganic N fertilizer production has a high energy requirement, as does its distribution & application and is increasingly perceived to represent a major consumption of fossil fuel

and to produce greenhouse gas (GHG). As a result, the long-term trend will be toward an increased use of legumes in crop rotations, valued for their biological nitrogen fixation and low GHG emissions – the Clean & Green approach to Sustainable Food Systems. Information on this latter aspect of legume production for both pulses and pastures is still lacking and needs to be in place to value their low contribution to green house gas production and global warming in systems. But clearly, in the emerging world legumes will continue to play a key role in Sustainable Food Systems.

A UWA CentreAs of July 1, 2007 the CLIMA alliance formed under a Memorandum of Understanding among the partners CSIRO, DAFWA, Murdoch University and UWA was dissolved through a lapsing of the MoU. CLIMA arose from the ashes as a University Research Centre within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (FNAS) - an entirely UWA entity. The University of Western Australia focuses on excellence in research and research training and this strong emphasis on research quality will continue to shape the future of CLIMA. It is the intention of the new CLIMA to continue to work closely with other research partners under the new institutional arrangement.

Future DirectionsDuring the past few months we have been considering CLIMA’s long-term directions and have produced an outline strategy, a summary of which follows:

Focus on genetic resources and pre-• breeding of pulses, broadening the current West Australian focus to a broader Australian perspective

Revive research on pastures, particularly • on pre-breeding

Research legume contributions to •

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sustainable food systems, with emphasis on the environmental services of the legumes

Build the international focus of research • at CLIMA

Address research needs in post-conflict • countries with a capacity building focus

Increase post-graduate student • numbers

We anticipate launching a CLIMA III Advisory Group and one of its first tasks will be to consider the outline strategy of the Centre.

I would like to thank Professor Neil Turner, the previous CLIMA Director and also Dr Jon Clements the Acting CLIMA Director warmly for their leadership and hard work prior to my arrival and their (and also that of many others) subsequent warm welcome to my family and I coming to a new land.

William Erskine, Assistant Director General (Research) at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria for the last seven years, commenced in January 2008 as Director of the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) as it consolidates its third phase as a research centre within the University of Western Australia (UWA).

Scottish born and raised on a farm near St Andrews, William completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1973, a Masters of Agriculture in 1976 and a PhD (University of Cambridge, Department of Applied Biology) in 1979.

He was a tutor with the Agriculture Faculty of the University of Papua New Guinea, 1973 to 1977; Coultshurst scholar, Department of Applied Biology, Magdalene College, Cambridge, 1978 to 1979; Post-doctoral fellow in lentil breeding at ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria, 1980 to1981; lentil breeder at ICARDA, 1981 to 1998 and Leader, Germplasm Improvement Program, ICARDA, 1998 to 2000.

While working for the Rome-based International Board for Plant Genetic Resources in 1979, assignments included leading an expedition to collect crop germplasm in the far-west of Nepal.

William has published widely with more than 120 papers in international journals and serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Agriculture Science; Experimental Agriculture; and the Australian Journal of Agricultural Research. He is an elected Fellow of the Institute of Biology, U.K. and of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India. He was given an Award for Service in Lentils by the Minister of Agriculture, Bangladesh in 2005.

L to R: Mr Alan Harris (DAFWA), Adj Prof Tanveer Khan (DAFWA/CLIMA), Dr Livinder Kaur (PAU), Dr Pooran Gaur (ICRISAT), Dr Daisy Basandrai (HAREC) and Dr Ashwani Basandrai (HAREC) examining the chickpea segregating material at HAREC, Dhaula Kuan.

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mailto:[email protected]


Volume 9, No.1 July 2008 3

RESEARCH REPORTS

STAFF MOVEMENTS

by Tim Maling

In the first six months of 2008 there have been several staff departures and arrivals.

Dr Julia Wilson left CLIMA in March to go downstairs to Future Farm Industries (FFI) as Research Contract Manager. Ms Jan Peters retired after many dedicated years at CLIMA. Mr Tim Maling takes up a position in DAFWA as a Research Officer, Biosecurity and Research. Many thanks to you all for your many and valued contributions to CLIMA over the years. You will be missed, so please stay in touch!

In April, Ms Leah Chong started work on interspecific hybridization in lupins with Dr Jon Clements, while Mr Federico Ribalta, Ms Marie Claire Castello and Ms Christine Munday started work with Dr Janine Croser. Janine left for maternity leave

from May to November 2008. Good Luck with young Rory and congratulations too. Dr Shyama Weerakoon has been working on interspecific hybridization in Brassica species with Dr Ping Si and Dr Guijun Yan since November last year.

Welcome to the Fourth-Year students: Ms Nateisha Norrish working on early vigour in lupin with Drs Jon Clements, Bevan Buirchell and Erik Venaklaas; Mr Troy Faithful working with Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar on sub-clover seed dormancy; and Ms Amy Goddard-Borger working with Dr Heather Clarke on native legumes.

Welcome also goes to Mr. Vasanth Garela Kumar who is doing a thesis for his MSc in Agriculture at CLIMA on reducing the generation cycle of field pea and chickpea with Drs Heather Clarke, Janine Croser and Prof. William Erskine.

There are three visiting scientists with CLIMA:

Dr Maya Kumari started working with • Dr Heather Clarke on albino hybrids in Cicer in June 2008 for six months on an Endeavour Fellowship.

Dr Xiangwen Fang from Lanzhou • University, China is visiting with Profs Kadambot Siddique and Neil Turner and Dr Guijun Yan (Plant Biology) on drought stress of chickpea for one year on an Endeavour Fellowship and with support from Lanzhou University.

Dr Mershad Barary from the University • of Ilam, Iran is working on pearl lupin drought tolerance with Drs Jon Clements and Jairo Palta (CSIRO) via an Endeavour Fellowship.

Welcome to CLIMA - We wish you all a productive stay.

NEW FORECASTINg MODELS CREATED FOR gREEN-BRIDgE DISEASES

An ARC Linkage project between CLIMA and the Department of Agriculture and Food has recently been completed that has developed innovative predictive models for Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) in canola and Bean yellow mosaic virus in lupin (BYMV). Following extensive validation with data previously collected in the WA grainbelt, the predictive models are used to provide seasonal risk forecasts, resulting in considerable productivity gains, reduced costs and environmental benefits.

The models predict aphid vector activity and epidemics of the two aphid-borne viruses in lupin and canola crops. They function in a modelling framework developed in this project which allows for the automated retrieval of the meteorological data needed to run the models, permitting more frequent forecasting at a far higher spatial resolution than previously. This allows us to provide forecasts for a total of over 450 locations throughout the south west of Australia on a weekly basis.

The forecasts are provided as internet-

based risk maps covering the cropping region of Western Australia. Three maps are provided for each disease: best case;

producing 50 results. These results are then ranked from best-case to worst-case, with the median result being the most-

likely scenario. The maps can be found at http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/cropdiseases.

The mechanistic design of the modelling framework has provided the flexibility to model other meteorologically mediated pathosystems, with new projects intending to util ise the framework to model rust and wheat streak mosaic virus.

Financial support for this project was provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Department of Agriculture and Food for Western Australia (DAFWA) through an ARC Linkage Project. The Grains Research and Development Corporation funded previous data collection at the calibration sites.

We acknowledge the use of SILO climate data from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, and thank present and past members of the DAFWA plant virology group and Research Station staff for their contribution to the data used in development and calibration of this model.

The 2008 BYMV forecast created using the newly developed model. This map is the ‘most likely’ scenario for the year.

most likely; and worst case scenarios based on historical modelling of current season data. The weather data for the ‘season to date’ is completed with data from an historical year, of which there are 50, to make 50 ‘model’ years. Each model year of data is then used to run the models,

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/cropdiseases



The CLIMA seminar series continues on a monthly basis.

Please contact Margaret Campbell [email protected]

to suggest topics and speakers. In particular, we value the earliest possible advice of seminars offered by visitors.

CLIMA SEMINARS

by Prof. Clive FrancisCLIMA CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO NEW PASTURE CULTIVARS - BLADDER CLOVER (Trifolium spumosum) cv AgWEST® BARTOLO

The world’s first cultivar of bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum) cv AGWEST® Bartolo, officially released by Agricultural Minister Kim Chance in February 2008, has a contribution from CLIMA. The initial focus of CLIMA on aerial seeding and easily harvestable pasture legumes continues to pay off with the release of this cultivar. This cultivar is a low cost annual pasture legume for Mediterranean mixed farming systems and is notable for its high seed production and ease of direct harvest. The breeding program has been supported by no less than 30 collection missions to the Mediterranean and Caucasian region during the CLIMA partnership, including a rhizobial collection by Prof John Howieson. The bladder clover, now cv Bartolo, was collected in Cyprus by Prof Clive Francis.

The development of bladder clover by Dr Angelo Loi and Mr Brad Nutt at DAFWA was underpinned by Mr Richard Snowball who characterised and sorted the seed collections at the Australian Trifolium Genetic Resource Centre in Perth and Prof Howieson of the Centre for Rhizobium Studies at Murdoch University who is leading the development of improved strains of rhizobia. The DAFWA annual pasture legume program (now led by Dr Clinton Revell) was part of CLIMA and has overseen the commercial release of a string of new cultivars. Many of these were developed through the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Program (NAPLIP) with funding from GRDC, AWI, DAFWA and CLIMA as well as RIRDC, following on from the release of the most successful non-subterranean clover pasture legume in Australia by CLIMA viz French serradella (Ornithopus sativus) cv Cadiz.

Bladder clover in blossom. (Photo K. Ghamkhar)

These new releases have changed the face of Australia’s pasture systems and include;

French serradella, Ornithopus sativus cv Margurita and Erica ,

Yellow serradella, Ornithopus compressus cv Santorini , Yelbini , Charano

Arrowleaf clover, Trifolium vesiculosum cv Cefalu

Crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum cv Caprera

Gland clover, Trifolium glanduliferum cv Prima

Biserrula, Biserrula pelecinus cv Casbah and Mauro

Eastern star clover Trifolium dasyurum cv AGWEST® Sothis

Sulla Hedysarum coronarium cv Flamenco

Purple clover Trifolium purpureum cv ElectraTM

Highly skilled and experienced DAFWA technical staff were lead players in the development of Sulla (Kevin Foster) and Purple clover (Peter Skinner).




by Trea Wiltshire

by Prof. Clive Francis

gOOD SCIENCE WINS gOOD yIELDS FOR TIMOR FARMERS

gERMPLASM COLLECTED By CLIMA SCIENTISTS STORED IN THE gLOBAL SEED VAULT

Agricultural scientists at The University of Western Australia are convinced that promising new varieties of staple crops such as rice, maize and cassava could result in dramatic yield increases in neighbouring East Timor, where 80 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture.

Adj. Prof. Harry Nesbitt, Australian Program Coordinator of the Seeds of Life program that is supported by the Australian Government, reported this positive

Adj. Prof. Harry Nesbitt, Marcal Gusmao and others with the Foreign Minister, Mr Zacarias Albano Da Costa inspecting Brassica plants in a glasshouse at UWA

prediction when East Timor’s Foreign Affairs Minister and Ambassador visited the University’s Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) in February.

CLIMA manages the Seeds of Life program that is conducting field trials on local farms in East Timor. The program also trains East Timorese agricultural scientists. Dr Nesbitt said that yield increases of up to 50 percent had already been recorded, simply

by changing the varieties used (without applying fertiliser).

“The new varieties are very efficient in nutrient uptake,” said Dr Nesbitt. “They are evaluated over several years, and are then trialled on farms before being released. Last year seven varieties of maize, rice, peanuts, and sweet potatoes were released and all increased productivity by about 50 percent.”

The Foreign Minister, Mr Zacarias Albano Da Costa and the Ambassador, Dr Hernani Filomena Coelho daSilva, also had a chance to meet with Timorese students studying a range of subjects – from Geology to Engineering – at Western Australia’s flagship University.

Among the students was agricultural scientist Marcal Gusmao, who heads the Agronomy Department of the National University of East Timor. Marcal worked with the Seeds of Life program in Timor, and is now studying for his PhD at the University in Perth. He is studying a potentially valuable crop, the grass pea.

The Foreign Minister and Ambassador were welcomed to The University of Western Australia by Professor Margaret Seares, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, and Professor William Erskine, Director of CLIMA, and other key scientists.

The official opening was on February 26 of the Norwegian Global Seed Vault (“Doomsday” vault as christened by some scientists), which houses seeds from all known food crops throughout the world, in an effort to protect the future of agriculture from catastrophe. The Prime Minister of Norway unlocked the vault and placed the first seeds in the vault. Dr Ken Street of ICARDA, a long term CLIMA genetic resources partner, placed the first ICARDA box containing germplasm collected by CLIMA scientists in the vault. .

The vault, which is backed by more than 100 countries, “aims to safeguard the world’s agriculture from future catastrophes, such

as nuclear war, asteroid strikes and climate change”. By collecting and preserving seeds from around the world, the Global Crop Diversity Trust, ( www.croptrust.org ) to which Australia is a major donor, is set to oversee the collection, and hopes to provide for the “conservation of crop diversity in perpetuity.” ICARDA will house its entire collection in the vault and has already prepared over 30,000 samples. The ICARDA material will include accessions collected in 12 missions to the Central Asian republics during CLIMA/ICARDA /Vavilov Institute collaborative projects funded by ACIAR and GRDC. Prof Clive Francis is one of the CLIMA scientists who collected many of these

samples, along with Dr Street. As Dr Cary Fowler, the Trust’s executive director who visited CLIMA, explains, “We want a safety net because we do not want to take too many chances with crop biodiversity.” The vault will be used as a backup system, to support the many seed banks throughout the world.

The vault is built on the island of Spitsbergen, 354 feet inside a frozen mountain. The remote island, one of four Svalbard Islands, was chosen for its stability and isolation (and yes, they did make sure that even with predicted global warming and rising sea levels, the seeds should be safe).

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http://www.croptrust.org

http://www.croptrust.org



VISITORS

UWA HOSTS SCIENTIST FROM LANzHOU UNIVERSITy, CHINA

On the f i rs t ann iversar y o f the implementation of a 111 project between Lanzhou University and several overseas institutions, including UWA and Yale University, entitled “The sustainable development of agricultural systems in dry and cold eco-systems of Loess Plateau”, UWA is hosting its third visitor, Dr Xiangwen Fang from the Lanzhou University. In May 2007, Profs Kadambot Siddique and Neil Turner and Dr Guijun Yan visited Lanzhou University to establish links with the project and this has resulted in the successful visit of Prof. Fengmin Li, the co-ordinator of the project in September 2007 and Prof. Ruijun Long for 3 months in early 2008. Dr Fang will work with Prof. Siddique, Director of the Institute of Agriculture (IOA), Dr Yan, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Leader of Crop Production Systems Program of IOA, Prof. Turner (CLIMA), and Dr Jairo Palta, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO on “Influence of water stress on reproductive physiology in chickpea”, based at CLIMA.Dr Fang obtained his undergraduate and Masters degrees in 2000 and 2003, respectively, from Gansu Agricultural

by Dr guijun yan, Adj. Prof. Neil Turner and Prof. Kadambot Siddique

Prof. Clive Francis collecting ancient wheat samples in Armenia. These materials are stored in the Global Seed Vault.

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Svalbard has a three-month “Polar Night” period when there is 24 hours of complete darkness. The permafrost on the island will help to keep the seeds cold at -18 degrees C even if the refrigeration system should fail. This fail-safe facility provides a safety back-up for existing gene bank collections, which are vulnerable to war, civil strife, and natural disasters and even to equipment failure and mismanagement. It is designed to hold 4.5 million samples of different varieties (in the form of seed) of agricultural crops and will ultimately operate without a full time staff. As the facility is designed to be used in worst-case scenarios, one cannot actually have too much dependency on human beings said Dr Fowler. The security in fact depends partly on the large polar bear population which greatly exceeds that of humans on the islands.

Dr Xiangwen Fang witnesses the chickpea sowing at Northam Photo by P. Si

University, Lanzhou and completed his PhD at Lanzhou University in 2006. His PhD project was on Caragana korshinskii Kom., a native legume of the Loess Plateau. Dr Fang has been working as a postdoctoral fellow in the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Arid and Grassland Agroecology at Lanzhou University. He has published a number of high quality papers based on his research on physiology of

drought resistance in legumes. His visit to CLIMA for a period of one year is supported by an Australian Endeavour Fellowship and the 111 project.

Dr Fang’s contact details are:Phone: 08 6488 7074Email: [email protected]: Room 1.150, CRC Wing, Agriculture Building



His Excellency Minister Berhe, Eritrean Minister for Agriculture, visited CLIMA on June 27, with the Ambassador of Eritrea Dr Andeab Ghebremeskel and key national agricultural research figures: Dr Iyassu Ghebretatious, Director General of the National Agriculture Research Centre and Mr Semere Amelsom, Dean of the Hamelmalo College of Agriculture.

The delegation was visiting Australia on the invitation of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forests, Canberra, and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) arranged for and hosted the delegation’s visit to WA.

At UWA, the group was welcomed by Professor Don Markwell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Dr Bruce Mackintosh, Director, International Centre and Professor William Erskine, CLIMA Director. The group were introduced to UWA and CLIMA and then toured laboratories and glasshouse facilities to see on-going research of relevance to Eritrea, followed by discussion on future cooperation.

During the tour, Dr Megan Ryan, (Lecturer in Pasture Science, School of Plant Biology), Dr Heather Clarke (Research Fellow, CLIMA) and Ms Nadia Bazihizina and Ms Lalith Suriyagoda, PhD Candidates, School of Plant Biology, addressed the group. They emphasized the use of local and international genetic resources of legumes as forages, giving Australia as an example, and the use of genetic resources for abiotic stress tolerance in food legumes - chickpea. The delegation also saw tissue culture and transformation facilities. Building on a collection expedition of forage legume

Prof. William Erskine presents the Eritrean delegation with the CLIMA cookbook “Passion for Pulses”.

Dr Heather Clarke talks about some of the CLIMA projects on chickpea to the visitors.



BUILDINg LINKS WITH ERITREA: VISIT OF ERITREAN MINISTER FOR AgRICULTURE TO CLIMA, UWA.

germplasm with the Eritreans, made by Mr Richard Snowball (CLIMA/DAFWA) and Mr Mehreteab Aberra in 2004, discussion was on future cooperation. This focussed on: the improvement of feed-livestock systems in marginal environments using local genetic resources; the collection and use of local food and forage legume germplasm; and capacity building opportunities within UWA at CLIMA and also in the newly formed International Centre for Plant Breeding Education and Research.

continued on page 9

EU pea production is mostly for animal feed (78% feed, 22% food in EU). France and the UK export to India and Egypt for human consumption. The major importing region is South Asia: 2.3mt (27%) including pea, dry bean, and chickpea for human consumption. Australia is a main player in lupin production, both for feed and more recently for human consumption. Prof. Siddique spoke of the role of legumes in sustainable production systems in Australia and developing countries and said biofuels will push out legumes even further from crop land. Global warming and the Kyoto protocol were also discussed: nitrogen fertiliser is the main contributor to nitrous oxide (NO2) and carbon dioxide emissions and the price of N fertilisers has increased by 40% in 5 years. Legumes are important in their N-fixing properties and their role in intercropping, multiple uses of crops and other innovations need to play a role in sustainability in agriculture. The issue was raised that legumes themselves may increase N2O production and more data are required before this can be assessed.

In the genomics arena, the mention of SuperSAGE recurred frequently for the analysis of expressed genes in eukaryotic organisms (gene expression profiling), particularly in application to stress-responsive transcriptomes in legumes and high throughput transcript profiling in GLIP legumes. Future uses of genomic and bioinformatics platforms included the application of microarrays, GeneChips, Mt RT-PCR platform for TF genes; insertion mutagenesis in Mt; pea TILLING platform; functional



REPORTS ON CONFERENCES

THE 6TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON gRAIN LEgUMES (AEP) by Dr Oonagh Byrne

Congratulations! Dr. Julia Wilson (CLIMA) and her prize-winning poster at the 6th AEP conference, Lisbon 2007.

A balmy “Indian Summer” was most welcome at the 6th European Conference on Grain Legumes, held in Lisbon in November 2007. CLIMA staff attending included Drs Heather Clarke, Janine Croser, Oonagh Byrne and Julia Wilson, who presented talks and posters over the course of the 5 day meeting. Also from Australia were Prof. Kadambot Siddique (UWA), Adj Prof. Karam Singh (CSIRO), Dr Judith Lichtenzveig (Murdoch), Dr Michael Materne (Victorian DPI) and Mr Peter Reading (GRDC). Many familiar faces from the international legume community were amongst the 380 delegates from 44 countries.

The theme of the conference was “Integrating legume biology for sustainable agriculture” as reflected in sessions on Economics & Sustainability, Seed biology for feed & food uses, Crop systems, Legume diversity, Genomics, Agro-ecology & Environment, Plant development & growth, and Biotic and Abiotic stress. The meeting included a summing up of the EU Grain Legumes Integrated Project (GLIP), which concludes in 2008. Programme details can be found at: http://www.grainlegumes.com and http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/understanding

The conference opened with a welcome address from Jaime Silva, the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, on behalf of the Portuguese Government. Highlights of current legume research began with “What’s the use of plant genomics for legume biology?” and it would seem they are very useful as the merits of Arabidopsis thaliana, and model systems Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus were presented. Continuing on a gene discovery theme, modern genetic methods are being brought to developing countries to support legume crop improvement, applying synteny in maps to locate primers across cowpea, common bean and Lablab.

Dr Noel Ellis (John Innes Centre, GLIP coordinator) gave an overview of Research Strategies for Legumes, with an update on the collaborative efforts to coordinate research activities within the EU as well as in Australia, Africa and the US. The highlights included an overview of the FP7 - Seventh Framework Programme followed by sessions and workshops on current progress in legume genetics and biology.

In the workshop on genetic resources, Dr Croser presented collaborative research on new biotechnology tools for chickpea, haploids and hybrids and Dr Wilson talked about progress towards crop improvement in lupin with interspecific hybridisation. Dr Byrne spoke on progress towards developing pea weevil resistant field pea cultivars at the workshop on germplasm enhancement. “Next steps”, chaired by Dr Ellis went late into the night, with a full-house.

The economic trend of world production of grain legumes has followed slow growth. Pea production is affected by politics, for example the European CAP reform. Australia was highlighted as a major exporting country, ranking 2nd for pea production, with 1.3mt (15%) after Canada, 2.1mt (25%). Canadian and

http://www.grainlegumes.com

http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/understanding

The Gala Conference Dinner was held at the majestic glass pavilion of “Tapada da Ajuda”, Botanic Park of “Instituto Superior de Agronomia” positioned high on one of the seven hills of Lisbon. And finally, how does one say thank you in Portuguese without mixing up your “obrigadas” and “obrigados”? I have it on good authority that “obrigada” is used by females when giving thanks, and “obrigado” is used by males. When addressing a mixed audience – it’s “obrigados”. Tchau!

genomics in Mt using knockout isolation; Mt mutant collections

(Italy); GERMINATE database for plant gene banks and legume

functional genomic resources. The commercialisation of DNA

markers and commercial value of drought and salt-responsive

genes were examined. Modelling tools, legumes in bioenergy and

bioproducts were also presented.




Near to the Convention Centre where the ICSC was held, green tea bushes and Brassica species are a major feature of the Jeju Island landscape.

THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL CROP SCIENCE CONgRESS by Dr Jon Clements

The 5th International Crop Science Congress was held at the Jeju Convention Centre, Jeju Island, South Korea from April 13-18, 2008. There were more than 1000 delegates from a large range of countries, with China, Japan and Korea particularly well represented.

Jeju Island is a world-class island-resort off the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Mt. Halla, with its volcanic crater, is at the center of the island and rises 1,950 m above sea level. The rest of the island slopes down from its summit and is covered with dark gray volcanic rocks and ash soil. It has a mild subtropical climate and agricultural activity includes rice, citrus fruit production (tangerine), widespread green tea plantations, with barley and soybean crops. A conference field tour took in some spectacular botanical and bonsai gardens, including 70-200 year old juniper, pine, yew, persimmon, quince and apple bonsai trees.

The Congress covered a wide range of topics including crop production, agro-biodiversity and genetic resources, improvement of crop yield potential, genome-assisted crop improvement, recent advances in crop biotechnology, transgenic crops, improving water use efficiency, and bioenergy production. Development in crop production research has been primarily responsible for a four-fold increase in average crop yields and six-fold rise in total harvest during the past 50 years. Crop science faces the challenge to offer poverty alleviation, food security, and a quality diet for the growing

world population through the development of sustainable cropping systems that have beneficial effects on the environment. The urge is to use a range of disciplines, from better land management, agronomic practices including better use of fertilizers and water, to more efficient breeding of improved cultivars, more nutrient efficient varieties, better marker assisted breeding, association mapping and gene discovery.

Keynote speaker Jerry Nelson (University Missouri) highlighted the increased expectation of sustainability, whilst increasing crop production from the same or even less agricultural land areas. He pointed out that advances in agriculture can actually be good for the environment if well managed. Previous increases in yield were due to better fertilization, irrigation and increased clearing of land. Now, there is the need for better technologies and plant breeding as modern society puts an emphasis on increased value-adding and processing. Globally there has been a shift from rice (still the world’s most important food crop) to wheat and other grains and there is a shift to meat consumption in India and China. The talk also mentioned the great need for maize improvement in Africa. Monsanto have teamed up with the Gates Foundation to provide assistance to crop production improvement, firstly with traditional varieties and then via GM traits (eg. herbicide and insect tolerance, then others such as drought tolerance genes).

Rice is still the key to food security for the world’s poorer populations. The green revolution led to a 12 fold increase in rice yields in the space of 30-40 years due to the use of semi-dwarf varieties and management practices (fertilizer, pesticides). Rates of yield increase in rice production have started to slow. Some ways of improving yields of rice could be through the “Green super rice” concept - that of using recent advances in functional genomic research, traits such as stay-green, through hybrid lines via heterosis (eg. developed by China), or possibly turning rice into a C4 plant.

Other topics of note at the conference included new non-GM methods such as gene repair and RNA interference, best nutrient management practices (BNMPs), better water use efficiency in crops including rice, wheat, maize and some legumes such as soybean and mungbean and finally - mutation of seed up in space!.

The next ICSC will be held in Brazil in 2012.

The 7th European Conference on grain Legumes (AEP) will take place from 26th to 30th April 2010 in

association with the 5th International Food Legume Research Conference (IFLRC), in Antalya, Turkey.



CLIMA VISITORS - FEBRUARy - JUNE 2008

Name of visitor Date Institution/ Country Purpose of visit Name of host

Dr Warren Williams 17– 20 February

AgResearch, New Zealand To develop further collaboration between AgResearch and CLIMA

Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar

Dr Nick Elison 17 - 20 February

AgResearch, New Zealand To strengthen relationships with clover genetics research team at CLIMA/UWA/Murdoch/DAFWA

Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar

Dr Xiangwen Fang April 2008 – April 2009

Lanzhou University, China Endeavour Fellowship to carry out research on drought tolerance in chickpea

Prof. Siddique/ Dr Guijun Yan

Dr Mershad Barary May – Nov The University of Ilam, Iran Endeavour Fellowship to carry out research on pearl lupin tolerance to drought

Dr Jon Clements

Dr Maya Kumari 1 June – 30 November

Banaras Hindu University Vawranasi India

Endeavour Fellowship to carry out research on wide crosses between chickpea and its wild relatives

Dr Heather Clarke/ Adj. Prof. Tanveer Khan

Dr Sa’ad Mohamed 4 June Ministry of Agriculture, Baghdad, Iraq

Introduction to CLIMA as part of ACIAR project with Iraq

Prof. William Erskine

Mr Raad Hameed 13 June Ministry of Agriculture, Mosul, Iraq

Introduction to CLIMA as part of ACIAR project with Iraq


Ms Safa M. Al Hinaai 21 June - 19 August

Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Training in interspecific hybridisation and experience in legume research and breeding

Dr Heather Clarke/ Prof. Siddique

Hon Arefaine Berhe, 27 June Minister of Agriculture, State of Eritrea (Africa)

Introduction to CLIMA and exploration of possible collaboration with Eritrea


Dr Iyassu Ghebretatios

27 June Director General, National Agricultural Research Institute State of Eritrea (Africa)



Mr Semere Amlesom 27 June Dean of the Hamelmalo College of Agriculture



His Excellency Dr Andeab Ghebremeskel

27 June Ambassador, State of Eritrea



Mr Peter Grist 27 June Executive Officer, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia





PUBLICATIONS SUBMITTED TO CLIMA UP TO JUNE 2008

Scientific Journals

Chen, S., Nelson, M., ghamkhar, K., Fu, T., and Cowling, W. (2008). Divergent patterns of allelic diversity from similar origins: the case pf oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in China and Australia. Genome 51, 1-10.

Danehloueipour, N., Clarke, H., yan, g., Khan, T., and Siddique, K. (2008). Leaf type is not associated with ascochyta blight disease in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Euphytica 162, 281-289.

glencross, B., Hawkins, W., Evans, D., Rutherford, N., McCafferty, P., Dods, K., Karopoulos, M., Veitch, C., Sipsas, S., and Buirchell, B. (2008). Variability in the composition of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) meals influences their digestible nutrient and energy value when fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquaculture 277, 220-230.

glencross, B., Hawkins, W., Evans, D., Rutherford, N., McCafferty, P., Dods, K., and Sipsas, S. (2008). Assessing the implications of variability in the digestible protein and energy value of lupin kernel meals when fed to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Aquaculture 277, 251-262.

Isenegger, D.A., Macleod, W.J., Ford, R., and Taylor, P.W.J. (2008). Genotypic diversity and migration of clonal lineages of Botrytis cinerea from chickpea fields of Bangladesh inferred by microsatellite markers. Plant Pathology, in press.

Jones, R.A.C., Coutts, B.A., Latham, L.J., and McKirdy, S.J. (2008a). Cucumber mosaic virus infection of chickpea stands: temporal and spatial patterns of spread and yield-limiting potential. Plant Pathology, in press.

Jones, R.A.C., Pearce, R.M., Prince, R.T., and Coutts, B.A. (2008b). Natural resistance to Alfalfa mosaic virus in different lupin species. Australian Plant Pathology 37, 112-116.

Nasar-Abbas, S.M., Plummer, J.A., Siddique, K., White, P., Harris, D., and Dods, K. (2008a). Cooking quality of faba bean after storage at high temperature and the role of lignins and other phenolics in bean hardening. LWT-Food Science and Technology 41, 1260-1267.

Nasar-Abbas, S.M., Plummer, J.A., White, P., Siddique, K., D’Antuono, M., Harris, D., and Dods, K. (2008b). Effect of site, harvesting stage, and genotype on environmental staining in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 365-373.

Nasar-Abbas, S.M., White, P., Harris, D., Dods, K., Siddique, K., and Plummer, J.A. (2008c). Nitrogen retards and oxygen accelerates darkening in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) during storage. Postharvest Biology and Technology 47, 113-118.

Neupane, R., Sarker, A., Shrestha, R., yadav, N.K., Erskine, W. and Francis, C. (2008). Lentil production in Nepal: A success story of fruitful partnership between Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Nepal, Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, Australia and International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Syria. Published by Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), Bangkok, Thailand. 42 pages.

Nicols, P.g.H., you, M.P., and Barbetti, M.J. (2008). Resistance to race 1 of Kabatiella caulivora in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) cultivars and breeding lines. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 561-566.

Norman, H.C., Wilmot, M.g., Thomas, D.T., Revell, D.K., and Masters, D.g. (2008). Stable carbon isotopes accurately reveal short-term diet selection by sheep grazing mixtures of C3 annual pastures and saltbush or C4 perennial grasses. Livestock Science, in press.

Byrne, O.M., Hardie, D.C., Khan, T. and yan g. (2007) Genetic analysis of pod and seed resistance to pea weevil in a Pisum sativum x Pisum fulvum interspecific cross. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, in press.

Turner, N.C., Schulze, E.-D., Nicolle, D., Schumacher, J., and Kuhlmann, I. (2008). Annual rainfall does not directly determine the carbon isotope ratio of leaves of Eucalyptus species. Physiologia Plantarum 132, 440-445.

11



WHAT’S NEW ON CLIMA’S WEBSITE www.clima.uwa.edu.au

NEWSLETTER CREDITS

CLIMA M080Faculty of Natural and Agricultural SciencesThe University of Western Australia35 Stirling HighwayCRAWLEY WA 6009

DISCLAIMERWhile every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this newsletter, the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) cannot accept any responsibility for the consequences of the use of this information. The Newsletter provides you with a brief explanation of research and other activities in progress and is a guide only.

© CLIMA 2008

Email: [email protected]: www.clima.uwa.edu.au

LAyOUTPaul Ricketts

DUIT Multimedia

[email protected]

Volume 9, Number 1 July 2008

EDITOR

Dr Ping Si [email protected]

Assistant Editor

Dr Debbie Thackray [email protected]

Contributing authors:

Dr Oonagh Byrne [email protected]

Dr Jon Clements [email protected]

Prof. Clive Francis [email protected]

Prof. William Erskine [email protected]

Adj. Prof. Tanveer Khan [email protected]

Mr Tim Maling [email protected]

Prof. Kadambot Siddique [email protected]

Adj. Prof. Neil Turner [email protected]

Ms Trea Wiltshire

Dr Guijun Yan [email protected]

NEW ARRIVAL

12

CLIMA website has a new look•

CLIMA newsletter June 2008• http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/news/newsletter

CLIMA publication list 2008• http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/publications

CLIMA staff • http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/people

Press releases since the last newsletter• http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/news/press

“Wild species to boost legumes’ genetic diversity” (15 may)

“Hybrid bridges span genetic barriers to versatile legumes” (15 may)

Seminar series updates• http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/seminars

CLIMA Research Projects updated• http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/research

New DAFWA pasture release with • CLIMA support http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au

Congratulations to CLIMA researcher Janine Croser and family on the arrival of

Rory Alexander Barnett. A 2nd son to Janine and Rennie and brother to Xavier.

Born on the 6th of June at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, the not so little lad

(4.75 kg (10 1/2 lbs)) is doing very well, as are the rest of the family.

http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au















http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/news/newsletter

http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/publications

http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/people

http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/news/press

http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/seminars

http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au/research


centre for legumes in mediterranean agriculture newsletter · 2010-07-05 · result, the long-term...

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