Life Sciences Commons^™

Australian Genetic Resources Of Trifolium And Ornithopus Species, Richard Snowball, Kevin Foster, Bill Collins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The introduction of improved pasture legumes into the cereal growing areas of southern Australia changed the face of our agricultural systems.

Subterranean clover was the first pasture legume to have a major impact, and the first varieties were available commercially in the 1930s. Since then, many varieties have been released, leading to the most recent release of Denmark, Gou/bum and Leura in 1992.

The development of burr, barrel and murex medics also had an impact on the pasture production of less acid heavy soils. Yellow serradella is still being developed for the more acid sandy soils.

This development of improved …

Stubble Retention And Leaf Disease In Lupin And Cereal Crops, Mark Sweetingham, Robert Loughman, Ron Jarvis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Retention of cereal stubbles can reduce leaf disease in lupins but increase leaf disease in cereals. The extent of cereal disease carry-over in stubbles depends on the locality and whether multiple cropping or crop rotation is practised

New Leaf Rust Helps To Control Blackberry, Jonathon Dodd, Sandy Lloyd

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The release of spores of the blackbeny leaf rust in spring 1991 marked the second attempt in Western Australia at controlling weedy blackberries with a biological agent. The strain of rust now being used is expected to be more effective than the one released in the 1980s.

This article describes the techniques used for rearing and releasing the fungus and illustrates the effects of the rust on blackbeny.

Three New Late-Midseason Subterranean Clovers Released For High Rainfall Pastures, Phil Nichols, Donald Nicholas

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Three new subterranean clovers - Denmark, Gou/bum and Leura - have been released in 1992 by the National Subterranean Clover Improvement Program. These subterranean clovers are black-seeded, have low oestrogen levels and improved disease resistance. Their release offers the potential for substantial improvements in pasture productivity in areas of southern Australia that have long growing seasons.

This article outlines some of the testing procedures and subsequent selection of these varieties and describes their characteristics and potential role in Western Australia.

Paddock Sampling For Management Of Annual Ryegrass Toxicity, Ian Riley

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidumJ seedheads containing corynetoxins, a group of bacterially produced antibiotics, are poisonous to livestock. Animals that eat affected ryegrass develop annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT), suffer convulsive staggers and die within a few days of eating a lethal dose. ARGT is characterised by high death rates, especially where pastures are not known to be affected and where stock-owners are not expecting the problem. Fortunately, there are commercial tests that determine the levels of ARGT organisms in the paddock and the risk of getting the disease. These tests will help farmers plan their cropping and pasture programs for the …