Issue No 4, July 1995.

NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the Advice on Publications Available.

3. Evaluation of Alternative Pulses in South Australia

Pulses are an important component of cropping systems in South Australia with an average of over 250 000 ha being sown during the three years to 1993-94. The major crop is field peas (141 000 ha) followed by lupins (54 300 ha), grain vetch (24 500 ha), beans (22 800 ha) and chickpeas (15 100 ha). Total annual production averages about 320 000 tonnes with the average yield for the different pulses ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 tonnes/ha. Breeding and selection of pulses in Australia is conducted under several National breeding programs involving close collaboration between states and with funding support provided by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

While pulses are now well established crops in South Australia a number of new species or crop types are currently under test. Brief details of the work on these alternative species are given in this article.

Lupins

The narrow leafed lupin (Lupinus augustifolius) is the established species grown on the non-calcareous soils in South Australia. Four other species are currently being tested for production on particular soils or for sale into niche markets. Two species of rough seeded lupin (L. pilosus and L. atlanticus) are under test because they offer particular promise for production on the calcareous/ alkaline soils which are so predominant in SA. However, while their growth is promising on the calcareous soils on Eyre Peninsular commercialisation will require a breeding program to incorporate the attributes of soft-seededness, sweetness (ie low alkaloid content) and non-shattering. Wider testing of this species will be undertaken once 'domesticated lines' become available.

Breeders' lines of the albus or Mediterranean White lupin (L. albus) are being evaluated at five sites in collaboration with breeders in WA and NSW. Albus lupins have the potential for production on heavier textured soils but do not tolerate waterlogging as well as narrow leafed lupins. They have the important attribute of being resistant to CMV (cucumber mosaic virus). There is a small production area of a large seeded bitter albus lupin in south east SA which is grown for a niche export market. This will need to be managed carefully as sweet and bitter albus lupin production do not mix well. Contamination and outcrossing between the two could seriously jeopardise the unique sweet (ie low alkaloid) reputation that Australian lupins have established on world markets.

Two lines of yellow lupin (L. luteus) introduced from Poland were tested at three sites in 1994. Yellow lupins have particular potential in areas subject to severe infestations of pleiochaeta root rot, rhizoctonia or CMV. They are also tolerant of waterlogging and infertile sands. It is hoped to be able to release a yellow lupin cultivar within the next three years.

Desi chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) are now a well established crop in SA but in many areas they are still seen as a new or alternative crop. Some selection work is being undertaken in SA from material produced in the National breeding program in NSW. A range of maturity types is being sought to cover the range of climatic conditions in the chickpea growing areas in SA. Many of the advanced breeding lines from NSW and Queensland tend to be too late maturing for some areas and cold tolerant, early to medium flowering lines are being sought. Other key issues associated with chickpea production in SA are boron toxicity and susceptibility to the nematode Pratylenchus.

Kabuli chickpeas are not widely grown in SA but some selections are being tested. Seed size is particularly important with Kabuli chickpeas and all lines currently being tested have larger seed than the currently grown cultivars Kaniva and Garnet.

Beans

Beans of the species Vicia faba are no longer a new crop in SA but disease has led to a sharp reduction in crop area in recent years. Cultivar improvement to incorporate disease resistance is critical for future production of beans in SA. The National Bean Breeding Program with funding provided by the GRDC is based in SA and material from that program is being screened for disease resistance at a number of field sites. Broad beans (Vicia faba) are grown in areas having a sufficiently long growing season to produce the large seed required by the market.

Other legume species

Several other leguminous species are under study in SA. Vetch (Vicia sativus) is the subject of a screening and breeding program being undertaken by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) as the lead agency in the National GRDC program. The program has identified rust resistant, soft seeded lines, and others with low BCA (beta-cyanide-alanine) levels in the seed. Vetch has potential as a grain for animal or human food, as a forage crop, and as a dual purpose hay and green manure crop. Advanced breeding lines have been included in wider state evaluations and are being evaluated for all the alternative end uses.

Lines of several species of Lathyrus developed under the National breeding program in WA are also being tested in SA. Lathyrus sativus is the main species and promising lines are now available with nil or low levels of ODAP (b-N-oxalyl-L-a, b-diamino- propionic acid), the chemical responsible for lathyrism. L. cicera is also being evaluated as a feed grain with potential for use as a food. It is well adapted to the SA environment, has a low content of ODAP and is often higher yielding than V. sativus. One line of L. cicera which was privately multiplied and used on a farm on Yorke Peninsular for some years is to be commercialised in 1997 as an alternative to vetch for grazing, hay or green manuring. Another species, L. ochrus, is now considered a pasture/forage species.

Limited resources have restricted studies on other potential leguminous species. Small-scale evaluations are being conducted on several other species including narbon bean (Vicia narbonensis), navy or culinary beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). These species appear to have good potential but as resources are limited industry assistance will be needed to facilitate their commercial development.

Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email: r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au

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originally created by: GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF