Life Sciences Commons^™

Developing Improved Varieties Of Subterranean Clover, Phil Nichols, Bill Collins, Dennis Gillespie, Martin Barbetti

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

Subterranean clover is widely recognised as the most important pasture legume species in southern Australia, having been sown over about 20 million hectares.

Together with superphosphate and trace elements, it has been a key factor in improving and maintaining soil fertility, and has resulted in dramatic increases in crop, livestock and wool production.

While the value of subterranean clover is well established, it does have some shortcomings.

Many varieties grown today are not sufficiently adapted to the environments and management systems in use. Others lack sufficient pest and disease resistance.

Improved subterranean clovers are being bred with better adaptation and …

Virus Diseases Of Subterranean Clover Pastures And Their Management, David Ferris, Roger Jones

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

In Western Australia and southern Australia generally, subterranean clover mottle (SCMV) and bean yellow mosaic (BYMV) are the most damaging virus diseases of subterranean clover pastures.

Although infected plants cannot be cured of virus infection, pastures can be managed to reduce both virus spread and persistence from year to year. Management options depend on which virus is present and include reseeding with resistant varieties; changing the pasture composition so that non-host species predominate; altering grazing practices to limit spread; and application of pesticide sprays to kill aphids.