For the second consecutive year, the new lupin varieties Coromup and Jenabillup challenged the dominance of Mandelup in the SA trial program. Neither of these new varieties is yet available in eastern Australia, however, leaving Mandelup as the clear best choice for all SA lupin growing districts for the present.
Most of the SA lupin NVT and breeding trials were sown around the optimum time of early to mid-May in 2008, although several South East trials were not able to be sown until into June.
Site mean yields ranged from around 0.3 t/ha in the mallee environments of central Eyre Peninsula and the Murray Mallee up to 2.1 to 2.4 t/ha at higher rainfall sites on Lower Eyre Peninsula and the South East.
The sharp finish to the season, with very low spring rainfall, high temperatures and strong, drying winds, pruned back lupin yields from their full potential, especially at the mallee sites, and had a major bearing on variety performance. Diseases were not a major issue in lupin trials in 2008.
Three lupin varieties, Mandelup, Coromup and Jenabillup, shared honours for top yielders in 2008.
These have similar early flowering and maturity times, well-suited to the harsh cut-off to the 2008 growing season. These conditions were most unfavourable for the late maturing Jindalee variety, which suffered a premature burn-off of flowers and drying-down of small developing pods at a number of the sites.
Jindalee averaged only 79 percent of Mandelup across all SA sites in 2008. Wonga also suffered under these conditions, but to a lesser extent, averaging 87 percent of Mandelup across the SA trials.
Notes on new varieties
Coromup was released in WA in 2006 for medium and low rainfall zones. It is a high quality narrow-leafed lupin, having large and uniform seeds with high protein, hence it has excellent attributes for de-hulling, producing high protein kernel meal for developing premium feed markets.
Coromup is early maturing and has a good disease resistance profile that includes anthracnose and phomopsis stem blight. Coromup was reselected from a crossbred line for its improved tolerance to metribuzin, which is similar to Mandelup.
In WA it is being promoted for its high quality (i.e. high protein) rather than high yields. In the absence of bonus payments for its higher protein, the main role for Coromup may be for on-farm feed use.
While Coromup averaged only 87 percent of Mandelup in its first year of NVT testing in SA in 2006, average yields in the past two years have been on a par with Mandelup. The long-term average for Coromup across SA is about 96 percent of Mandelup.
Jenabillup (WALAN2224) was released in WA in 2007, specifically for their southern districts where “black pod syndrome” (BPS) regularly reduces yields.
Jenabillup has shown a greater tolerance and higher yields in the presence of this disorder than other varieties. The cause of “black pod syndrome” in WA is thought to be a physiological response to climatic conditions and soil moisture.
Affected lupin crops are usually high in biomass and well-podded in spring. As the season finishes there appears to be a remobilisation of nutrients from the pods thus leaving the pods flat and black with small seed inside.
“Black pod syndrome” has not necessarily been recognised elsewhere in Australia, although similar symptoms have been reported sporadically in SA.
Jenabillup’s anthracnose resistance level is low (MS), similar to Kalya and Merrit.
Yields in SA trials have been variable over the past 3 years of testing, from an average 90 percent of Mandelup in 2006, to 6 percent above Mandelup in 2007, and on a par with Mandelup in 2008.
The long-term average for Jenabillup across SA is about 104 percent of Mandelup. But Jenabillup has consistently outyielded Mandelup at several sites over the past 3 years, including Wanilla, Keith and Mundulla, which may indicate specific environmental adaptation.
Small quantities of pedigree seed of Coromup and Jenabillup have been built up by the NSW DPI under strict anthracnose quarantine conditions for potential release by ABB Seeds in eastern Australia.
At this stage Coromup is unlikely to be released here, since there is no price premium for its higher protein seed. Jenabillup is likely to be released though, and will undergo seed bulk-up over the next 2 years, for potential commercial release in 2011.
Lupin variety choices for growers for the next 2 years at least will therefore be restricted to the current suite of varieties.
Mandelup has the highest long-term average yields of all varieties (with the exception of Jenabillup) at all sites, with a 5 to 10 percent yield advantage in all regions, as shown in the long-term yield table.
In addition to its yield advantages and very early maturity, Mandelup has moderate anthracnose resistance (slightly better than Kalya, but less than Wonga), is resistant to phomopsis stem blight and aphids, and is moderately resistant to CMV seed transmission.
For brown leaf spot it is moderately susceptible, similar to Merrit. A potential weakness for higher rainfall districts is its poorer stem strength, giving a higher risk of lodging, although no evidence of this has been observed at wetter sites in recent years.
Timely, early harvest of Mandelup is advised, to minimise the risk of pod splitting. Seed of Mandelup is available in SA through PlantTech Pty Ltd.
Wonga remains the best option currently available to SA growers wanting the highest levels of anthracnose resistance. Wonga’s yields have averaged around 8 percent below Mandelup.
At the other end of the anthracnose scale, Quilinock is one of the most susceptible varieties.
Although the risk of anthracnose is low with good seed and crop hygiene, Quilinock has no compelling advantages over other less susceptible varieties to warrant its continued use.
Jindalee is the latest flowering and maturing variety currently available. It particularly suits early sowing in higher rainfall districts, where its vernalisation (cold) requirement prevents it from flowering too early.
Jindalee can also respond to late spring rains, as shown by its good relative yields at Kybybolite and Keith in 2007, and across all sites generally in 2005.
Jindalee’s long-term yield performance ranges from 7 to 11 percent behind Mandelup across SA districts, however. Jindalee’s anthracnose rating is MS, slightly less susceptible than Merrit.
This level of anthracnose resistance is generally adequate though, if combined with seed testing, paddock monitoring and sound crop hygiene management.
