Breeding the perennial pasture grass Phalaris aquatica for acid soils

1993 ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Oram ◽  
R. A. Culvenor ◽  
A. M. Ridley
Keyword(s):  
Acid Soils ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica

scholarly journals Characterisation of Sardinian germplasm of the perennial pasture grass Phalaris aquatica

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 850
Author(s):  
Richard A. Culvenor ◽  
Stuart Kemp ◽  
Kevin F. M. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Acid Soils ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Seedling Vigour ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Eastern Australia

Germplasm of the perennial pasture grass Phalaris aquatica L., from Sardinia, Italy, is a potentially valuable source for grass breeders owing to climatic similarities to regions where P. aquatica is used, a relatively high incidence of acidic soils, and exposure to prolonged grazing pressure. At field sites in south-eastern Australia, Sardinian accessions were compared as spaced plants and drill-rows with accessions from southern Europe and north-western Africa and with commercial cultivars. They were also evaluated in grazed swards at three sites over 4 years under conditions that challenge persistence, including heavy grazing pressure, acid soils and drought. Morphologically, the accessions were comparatively dense, fine and short, with similarities to southern European accessions and cultivars of the cv. Australian type. However, they were earlier heading and more summer-dormant, particularly those from southern Sardinia. In drill-rows, Sardinian accessions were later heading and less productive in winter than accessions from Morocco. In swards, Sardinian accessions had lower seedling vigour and winter growth potential than modern winter-active cultivars. However, they were dense and persistent under high grazing pressure, and some accessions survived better than all cultivars on an acid, low-fertility soil. Developing cultivars that are superior to the cv. Australian type with acceptable seed production and alkaloid levels presents a challenge to breeders. However Sardinian germplasm offers a range of maturity times combined with higher levels of summer dormancy and a grazing-tolerant morphology, attributes that may expand the area of adaptation of the species into the hotter and more drought-prone margin.

Comparative levels of dimethyltryptamine- and tyramine-related alkaloid toxins in Australian cultivars and some wild populations of Phalaris aquatica

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1395 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Culvenor ◽  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
S. E. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
North West ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Grazing Tolerance ◽  
The North ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Related Alkaloid ◽  
Wild Accessions

Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) is a temperate perennial grass which occasionally causes toxicity in livestock. Immunoassays (ELISAs) were used to measure the level of the dimethyltryptamine and related alkaloid group (TRYP) and the tyramine-related group of alkaloids (TYR) in cultivars, breeding populations and wild accessions of phalaris. Herbage was sampled from grazed swards or spaced plants at several sites and times. Component alkaloids in 4 cultivars were also determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Levels of TYR were higher than TRYP at all times of sampling. Alkaloid levels varied widely with site and sampling time, green herbage sampled in autumn being much higher than herbage sampled from July onwards. Plants sampled in autumn usually appeared moisture stressed and this may have been 1 factor causing high alkaloid levels in autumn. Comparative levels of TRYP in older cultivars agreed with published information. Two semi-winter dormant cultivars, Australian and the new and closely-related Australian II, were both higher than other cultivars in TRYP (maximum levels 18–20 mg/100 g fresh weight) but similar to most in TYR. Among winter-active cultivars, Holdfast and Sirolan were very low in TRYP (maximum levels <0.5 mg/100 g fresh weight) but Holdfast was the highest of all cultivars in TYR. While we argue on the basis of the TLC analyses and from previous work that the bulk of TYR in phalaris cultivars is N-methyltyramine, Holdfast was an exception in having one-third of its TYR as the less toxic hordenine in TLC analyses. Other new cultivars, Landmaster and Atlas PG, and breeding populations being developed as potential cultivars for acid soils or with improved grazing tolerance were generally higher than Holdfast and Sirolan, and similar to Sirosa, in TRYP (maximum levels 1–5 mg/100 g fresh weight). All were less than Holdfast in TYR. Two sets of wild accessions, 1 of which is being used in the development of a cultivar for the North-West Slopes of NSW, were relatively high in TYR alkaloids.

Multi-site evaluation on acid soils of a Phalaris aquatica × P. arundinacea × P. aquatica backcross population bred for acid soil tolerance

2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Culvenor ◽  
J. T. Wood ◽  
A. L. Avery ◽  
W. Dempsey ◽  
S. E. McDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Soil ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Al Tolerance ◽  
Ph Profile ◽  
Backcross Population ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Acid Soil Tolerance ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern

Half-sib families in the AT98 Phalaris aquatica × P. arundinacea × P. aquatica backcross population bred for acid soil tolerance were compared for establishment, persistence, and yield with phalaris (P. aquatica L.) controls and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Porto) at 4 sites in south-eastern Australia with the aim of selecting the parents of a new cultivar. The sites had strongly acid soils but differed in parent material, pH profile, soil fertility, and suitability for phalaris. Establishment by AT98 was clearly superior to all phalaris controls and similar to cocksfoot in an acid soil high in Al to depth at Chiltern, north-eastern Victoria, after sowing in early spring 2000. It was considered likely that better establishment by AT98 was due to its higher Al tolerance. In contrast, little variation in establishment was observed at 3 other sites sown in late autumn 1999, possibly due to a longer period free of moisture stress compared with the later sown Chiltern site. Once established, the control cultivars of phalaris at the autumn-sown sites in general persisted and yielded similarly to the mean of the AT98 families. Significant family variation was observed and predicted heritability on a family mean basis was high for persistence measured as basal frequency and moderately high for yield in the third year. Family by site interaction was relatively low for both attributes. A cultivar based on the best families should give more reliable establishment on acid soils high in Al under conditions where rapid root growth to depth is needed for survival, and give more flexibility of sowing date on these soils. Its best performance relative to cv. Landmaster in terms of third-year yield was predicted to occur on granite-derived soils in north-eastern Victoria.

Improving the tolerance of Phalaris aquatica L. to soil acidity by introgression of genes from P. arundinacea L

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
RN Oram ◽  
AM Ridley ◽  
MJ Hill ◽  
J Hunter ◽  
DA Hedges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Site ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Backcross Population ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Backcross Hybrids ◽  
Acid Tolerant

A comparison was made of the growth on acid and non-acid soils near Canberra of 66 lines in Phalaris aquatica, in seven other Phalaris species which can be crossed with P. aquatica and in seven allopolyploid or backcross hybrids involving P. aquatica. The yield of tops by mid-spring on the strongly acid site was only 20% of that on the mildly acid site. Some variation was apparent among the 38 P. aquatica accessions and cultivars, but some P. arundinacea accessions and hybrids were less inhibited by acidity than any P. aquatica line. Fifty plants from the first or second backcross of four P. aquatica X P. arundinacea hybrids to P. aquatica were selected for their capability of producing a large root system in a nutrient solution containing 10 mg aluminium per L at pH 4.1. On acid soils near Bendigo, Seymour, Benalla and Canberra, offsets of seven of these backcross plants were rated as growing significantly larger at the end of the first growing season than plants of Sirosa, Sirolan and Uneta phalaris, Porto and Currie cocksfoot, Demeter and Melik tall fescue and of Victorian and Brumby perennial ryegrass. However, two of the backcross genotypes appeared to be significantly smaller than the phalaris and cocksfoot controls. Thus, factors in addition to excess aluminium appear to affect the growth of phalaris in these soils, but some backcross genotypes tolerate these adverse conditions. Four of the productive, acid-tolerant genotypes survived the first summer, regenerated vigorously in the following autumn, were palatable to sheep in test grazings over two summers at Armidale, N.S.W., and also were fertile and retained some of the ripe seed in their panicles. Therefore, it seems probable that phalaris cultivars for acid soils in south-eastern Australia can be selected from later generations of the backcross population.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity among wild and cultivated germplasm of the perennial pasture grass Phalaris aquatica, using DArTseq SNP marker analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Washington J. Gapare ◽  
Andrzej Kilian ◽  
Alan V. Stewart ◽  
Kevin F. Smith ◽  
Richard A. Culvenor
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Snp Markers ◽  
Wild Germplasm ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
North West ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
The Usa

Phalaris aquatica L. (phalaris) is a cool-season perennial grass originating from the Mediterranean Basin, north-west Africa and Middle Eastern regions that is used for livestock agriculture mainly in temperate areas with dry summers. It has been the subject of breeding programs in Australia, South America, New Zealand and the USA. Increased knowledge of relationships between wild and cultivated germplasm through use of molecular markers has the potential to facilitate future breeding gains. For this purpose, we conducted an analysis of P. aquatica by using 3905 polymorphic DArTseq SNP markers. Genetic diversity as measured by expected heterozygosity was similar for wild (HE = 0.14; n = 57) and cultivated (HE = 0.13; n = 37) accessions. Diversity in wild germplasm was generally continuous in nature, largely related to geographical location, with a division at the broadest scale into eastern and western clades, with more admixture in the western than the eastern clade. Structure analysis of wild germplasm indicated six subpopulations consistent with country of origin, with some admixture among subpopulations likely resulting from natural and human influences. There were nine subpopulations among wild and cultivated accessions combined. This population structure should be considered if genomic selection is applied in P. aquatica. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that 71% of the genetic variation occurred within subpopulations and 29% among subpopulations. Genetic distances were low among cultivated germplasm from most countries except the USA, which was more distinct. Evaluation of material from the US pool by breeding programs in other countries, and additional material from the less utilised eastern clade, may be worthwhile.

Persistence traits in perennial pasture grasses: the case of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.)

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Culvenor ◽  
R. J. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Recurrent Selection ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Al Tolerance ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Eastern Australia

Persistence is consistently claimed by Australian farmers as a high priority for perennial grasses in long-term pastures. Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) is a productive perennial grass with proven persistence in south-eastern Australia. Nevertheless, factors that determine the persistence of pasture species in southern Australia related to climate (drought), soil (acidity), grazing pressure, and, importantly, their interaction can reduce persistence of phalaris and other species in various situations. These factors and their interactions are discussed in this review, and strategies to improve persistence with emphasis on plant breeding approaches are considered, with the most durable outcomes achieved when breeding and management options are employed concurrently. Two examples of breeding to improve persistence traits in phalaris are described. A program to improve acid-soil tolerance resulted first in the release of cv. Landmaster, and recently Advanced AT, which is the most aluminium (Al)-tolerant cultivar of phalaris to date. It was bred by recurrent selection on acid soils in a population containing genes from a related, more Al-tolerant species, P. arundinacea. The higher Al tolerance of cv. Advanced AT is of most benefit in more assured establishment on acid soils under variable moisture conditions and confers improved flexibility of sowing date. Cultivar Holdfast GT was bred to address complaints of poor persistence under heavy grazing by cultivars of the highly productive, winter-active type, since high grazing tolerance is needed to achieve profitable returns from developed pastureland. Evidence of good persistence under grazing for cv. Holdfast GT and possible tradeoffs with productivity are discussed. Maintaining high productivity under a predicted higher incidence of drought stress (climate change) and increasing areas of acid soils presents ongoing challenges for persistence in pastures.

scholarly journals Early productivity of binary mixtures and single grass species

1994 ◽  
pp. 205-208
Author(s):  
F.J. Parry ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
B.A. Mckenzie
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica

An experiment was conducted on a fertile Walcanui silt loam in 1991/92 to examine the productivity of 4 perennial pasture grass species, Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Grasslands Marsden hybrid tyegrass (Lolium perenne x Lolium hybridum), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and 2 binary mixtures, tall fescue plus cocksfoot and phalaris plus cocksfoot. Between July 1991 and September 1992 the highest production came from phalaris plus cocksfoot at 19.05 t DM/ha. Hybrid ryegrass, phalaris, tall fescue plus cocksfoot, cocksfoot, and tall fescue produced 17.44, 17.13, 16.96, 14.17, and 13.13t DM/ha respectively. The botanical composition of both mixtures averaged equal proportions of the sown species. The proportion of cocksfoot increased over the summer period then declined for the following autumn/winter period. The experiment shows that simple pasture grass mixtures may be highly productive. These findings support the increasing farmer practice of sowmg some pasture grasses in simple mixtures. Keywords: binary mixture, botanical composition, Dactylis glomerata, dry matter production, Festuca arundinuceu, Lolium perenne x Lolium hybridum, pasture mixtures, Phalaris aquatica, seasonal production

scholarly journals Productivity and water use of five pasture grasses in Canterbury

1992 ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
F.J.Parry B.A. Mckenzie ◽  
R.J. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Use Efficiency

An experiment was conducted on a fertile Wakanui silt loam in 1991/1992 examining yield and water use of five perennial pasture grass species, Grasslands Hakari mountain brome (Bromus sirchensis), Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Grasslands Marsden perennial ryegrass (L&m perenne x L&urn hybridum), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica). From 8 November, 1991 until 31 March, 1992 the highest yields were from Hakari and Maru at 11370 and 10870 kg/ha. Marsden, Wana and Roa yielded 8960,875O and 8190 kg/ha respectively. From late January until the end of March growth conditions were not limited by water stress or nutrients. Pre-irrigation yields, when minfall limited growth were 3840,3570, 2720, 2520 and 2290 kg/ha for Hakari, Maru, Marsden, Wana and Roa respectively. Total water use was not significantly different between species and averaged 400 mm. Water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly higher for Hakari and Maru at 30.1 and 27.9 kg DM/ha/mm respectively. The other three species had WUE's less than 23 kg DM/ ha/mm of water. Neutron probe measurements showed all species extracted soil water from a depth of at least 110 cm. Keywords Bromus sitchensis, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne x L&urn hybridum, Phalaris aquatica, root depth, water use, water use efficiency, yield

PRODUCTIVITY OF PASTURAL HERBS WITH PARTICIPATION OF FESTULOLIUM DEPENDING ON WEATHER CONDITIONS OF VEGETATION PERIODS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kira Privalova ◽  
Ruslan Karimov
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Moisture Supply ◽  
Productivity Indicators ◽  
Heat And Moisture

Based on 13 years of research, data are presented on the productivity of pasture grass stands with the participation of festulolium (cultivar VIK 90) in years with different conditions of heat and moisture supply of vegetation periods. Productivity indicators, depending on weather conditions, changed 1.5 times.

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