Genetic improvement of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). 2. Breeding for disease and pest resistance

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. H. Nichols ◽  
R. A. C. Jones ◽  
T. J. Ridsdill-Smith ◽  
M. J. Barbetti

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) is the most widely sown pasture legume in southern Australia and resistance to important diseases and pests has been a major plant-breeding objective. Kabatiella caulivora, the cause of clover scorch, is the most important foliar fungal pathogen, and several cultivars have been developed with resistance to both known races. Screening of advanced breeding lines has been conducted to prevent release of cultivars with high susceptibility to other important fungal foliar disease pathogens, including rust (Uromyces trifolii-repentis), powdery mildew (Oidium sp.), cercospora (Cercospora zebrina) and common leaf spot (Pseudopeziza trifolii). Several oomycete and fungal species cause root rots of subterranean clover, including Phytophthora clandestina, Pythium irregulare, Aphanomyces trifolii, Fusarium avenaceum and Rhizoctonia solani. Most breeding efforts have been devoted to resistance to P. clandestina, but the existence of different races has confounded selection. The most economically important virus diseases in subterranean clover pastures are Subterranean clover mottle virus and Bean yellow mosaic virus, while Subterranean clover stunt virus, Subterranean clover red leaf virus (local synonym for Soybean dwarf virus), Cucumber mosaic virus, Alfalfa mosaic virus, Clover yellow vein virus, Beet western yellows virus and Bean leaf roll virus also cause losses. Genotypic differences for resistance have been found to several of these fungal, oomycete and viral pathogens, highlighting the potential to develop cultivars with improved resistance. The most important pests of subterranean clover are redlegged earth mite (RLEM) (Halotydeus destructor), blue oat mite (Penthaleus major), blue-green aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi) and lucerne flea (Sminthurus viridis). New cultivars have been bred with increased RLEM cotyledon resistance, but limited selection has been conducted for resistance to other pests. Screening for disease and pest resistance has largely ceased, but recent molecular biology advances in subterranean clover provide a new platform for development of future cultivars with multiple resistances to important diseases and pests. However, this can only be realised if skills in pasture plant pathology, entomology, pre-breeding and plant breeding are maintained and adequately resourced. In particular, supporting phenotypic disease and pest resistance studies and understanding their significance is critical to enable molecular technology investments achieve practical outcomes and deliver subterranean clover cultivars with sufficient pathogen and pest resistance to ensure productive pastures across southern Australia.

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ McKirdy ◽  
BA Coutts ◽  
RAC Jones

In 1990, infection with bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was widespread in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) pastures in the south-west of Western Australia. When 100 leaves were sampled at random per pasture, the virus was detected by ELISA in 23 of 87 pastures and incidences of infection ranged from 1 to 64%. BYMV was present in all seven districts surveyed, but highest incidences of infection occurred in the Busselton district. In smaller surveys in 1989 and 1992, incidences of infection in pastures were higher than in 1990, and ranged up to 90%. In 1992, when petals from 1703 samples of 59 species of perennial native legumes from 117 sites were tested by ELISA, only 1% were found infected with BYMV. The infected samples came from 5/7 districts surveyed. Species found infected were Kennedia prostrata, K. coccinea, Hovea elliptica and H. pungens. Representative isolates of BYMV from subterranean clover and native legumes did not infect white clover systemically confirming that clover yellow vein virus (CYVV) was not involved. It was concluded that BYMV infection was present in many subterranean clover pastures, but normally at low incidences, except in epidemic years such as 1992. Also, perennial native legumes are unlikely to act as major reservoirs for reinfection of annual pastures each year. In areas of Australia with Mediterranean climates where perennial pastures are absent, persistence of the virus over summer is therefore by some other method than infection of perennials.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Cheng ◽  
R. A. C. Jones

A new strain of bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), a non-necrotic strain, was found in south-west Western Australia. It differs from the original necrotic strain of BYMV in that it does not kill Lupinus angustifolius (narrow-leafed lupin) plants, but causes symptoms of mottle and stunting, or dead growing points, fleshy expanded leaves, and stunting. A survey of L. angustifolius crops during September and October 1997 compared the distribution and incidence of the necrotic strain with that of the non-necrotic strain. Based on 1000 plants inspected at the edge of each crop, the necrotic strain was found in 100 of 102 crops while the non-necrotic strain was found in 64 of them. Incidences ranged from 0.3 to 56% (necrotic strain) and 0.1 to 7% (non-necrotic strain) of plants counted. Both strains were present over the whole range of the survey. Wild L. angustifolius and L. luteus (yellow lupin) populations were also inspected. The necrotic and non-necrotic strains were found in 31 and 9 of the 34 L. angustifolius populations examined, respectively. Incidences ranged from 0.1 to 28% (necrotic strain) and 0.1 to 3% (non-necrotic strain) of plants counted. BYMV was found in 9 of 11 wild L. luteus populations with incidences ranging from 0.3 to 7% of plants counted. In a separate survey in which samples of L. angustifolius crops, with necrotic symptoms suspected of being caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (lupin anthracnose disease), were examined, 37 of 130 samples had typical necrotic BYMV symptoms. Samples with these necrotic symptoms also came from northern and eastern wheatbelt areas not normally associated with BYMV infection. When 8 BYMV isolates cultured by sap inoculation in Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover) were tested by aphid transmission to L. angustifolius plants in 1994 and again in 1997, the isolates of the 2 strains behaved the same on both occasions causing only necrotic (3 isolates) or non-necrotic (5 isolates) symptoms. Thus, despite repeated subculture by sap inoculation over a 3.5-year period, the 2 BYMV strains still remained distinct. An isolate collected from wild L. luteus in 1997 produced only non-necrotic symptoms in L. angustifolius. The non-necrotic strain caused symptoms typical of BYMV in hosts other than L. angustifolius, reacted strongly with BYMV antiserum, and failed to react with antiserum to clover yellow vein virus. In a BYMV-infected lupin crop, grain yields of individual L. angustifolius plants infected early with the non-necrotic strain were decreased by 95%. Shoot weights, seed number, and seed size were also greatly decreased. Widespread occurrence of the non-necrotic strain of BYMV is cause for concern for the lupin industry.


1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 723 ◽  
Author(s):  
NW Grylls ◽  
JW Peak

Resistance to subterranean clover stunt virus was explored in 390 strains and named varieties of subterranean clover from the Mediterranean regions, England, France, the Iberian peninsula, New Zealand, and Australia. High levels of genetic resistance were shown in the Australian varieties Tallarook, Hill's Small, and Bass B. Resistance of a selected group of F2's was found to be midway between that of the parents. In selected groups of F4 generation hybrids, and in selected second and third generation backcrosses, resistance equal to that of Tallarook was shown. The apparent recovery of some plants during tests in the glass-house was shown to be a form of temporary tolerance to the virus.


1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Thackray ◽  
T. J. Ridsdill-Smith ◽  
D. J. Gillespie

Summary. Controlled environment experiments were conducted to establish some of the requirements for successful mass rearing of Halotydeus destructor (redlegged earth mite). Numbers of mites reared on Vicia sativa (common vetch) cv. Blanchefleur grown alone or on a mixture of vetch with Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover) cv. Goulburn, were significantly higher than those on subterranean clover or Arctotheca calendula (capeweed) alone. Populations reared on vetch grown in a sandy soil were significantly higher than those reared on vetch grown in a loamy soil, pure sand or pure loam. Covering the soil surface with a natural pasture mulch increased mite numbers compared with leaving the soil bare or placing plant pots inside ventilated cages. Subsequent changes in rearing methodology produced enough mites to enable summer screening of subterranean clover lines for resistance to H. destructorfor the first time. Over 20 000 mites can be produced from vetch at one time for screening tests throughout the year.


Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Pei You ◽  
Phillip Nichols ◽  
Roseline Katusiime ◽  
Martin John BARBETTI

Glasshouse and field investigations were undertaken into the phenotypic expressions of resistance of a 97-member World Core Collection of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), collected from its native Mediterranean habitat and representing around 80% of the total genetic diversity within the known 10,000 accessions of the species, against the most important damping-off and root rot (Phytophthora clandestina, and Pythium irregulare) and foliar (Kabatiella caulivora, Uromyces trifolii-repentis and Erysiphe trifoliorum)pathogens. An additional 28 diverse cultivars were also included. Associations were also examined for these genotypes between 18 disease parameters and 17 morphological traits and between these disease parameters and 24 climatic and eco-geographic variables from their collection sites. Many genotypes showed strong phenotypic expression of novel host disease resistance(s) against one or more pathogens, enabling their potential deployment as disease resistant parents into subterranean clover breeding programs. These new sources of resistance enable future ‘pyramiding’ of different resistance genes to improve resistance against these pathogens. Of particular value were genotypes with multiple disease resistances across soilborne and/or foliar diseases, as many of these pathogens co-occur. All diseases had some parameters significantly correlated with one or more morphological traits and with one or more site of origin variables. In particular, there were significant negative correlations between damping-off (i.e., germination) and eight of the 17 morphological characters. The outcome of these studies provides crucial information to subterranean clover breeding programs, enabling them to simultaneously select genotypes with multiple resistances to co-occurring soilborne and foliar diseases, in addition to desirable traits, to offer renewed hope for re-establishing a more productive subterranean clover livestock feedbase despite multiple diseases prevailing widely.


1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 639 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Peak ◽  
FHW Morley ◽  
NW Grylls

In glass-house tests of 40 subterranean clover lines showing field resistance, 21 were found to be resistant. These included lines from Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Tunisia, and Australia. The resistance of the Australian varieties Tallarook and Hill's Small was confirmed. Three further lines from Australia, Hexham Smooth Stem, Hexham Hairy Stem, and Samaria, were also found to be resistant. Bass B, previously classed as resistant, gave variable results. The level of resistance in the F1's from crosses between resistant and susceptible parents equalled that of the resistant parents, which indicated complete dominance of resistance. The F2 values were somewhat higher than those of the mid-parents. Variations among resistant and susceptible parents, and among F2's of susceptible parents, indicated that resistance is not determined solely by a single gene. Modifiers, and probably different major genes, appear to be present. The implications of these results for plant breeding are discussed.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
TJ Ridsdill-Smith

Responses of redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) to seedlings of three resistant and four susceptible varieties of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) were measured after 7 or 14 days in pot experiments in the glasshouse. With a single variety/pot, mites on resistant varieties (DGI007, EP145SubD and Rutherglen B) produced 45% of the progeny that were produced by mites on the susceptible varieties (89838G, Dalkeith, Junee and 70088B). Number of stages completed and survival were little affected by varieties. Feeding damage (silvering of cotyledons) on resistant varieties averaged 45% of that on susceptible varieties with a single varietylpot. H. destructor fed less on resistant varieties in choice than in single variety experiments. On Junee and 89838G seedlings, feeding damage was similar to that on other susceptible varieties, but there were about half as many H. destructor progeny as on Dalkeith and 70088B. Mites laid more eggs on soil away from Junee plants, compared to the other three susceptible varieties. Different factors adversely affected the number of progeny produced on resistant varieties and on Junee.


2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 902 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Peck ◽  
N. Habili ◽  
R. M. Nair ◽  
J. W. Randles ◽  
C. T. de Koning ◽  
...  

In the mid 2000s subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) seed producers in South Australia reported symptoms of a red-leaf disease in fields with reduced seed yields. The red-leaf symptoms resembled those caused by several clover-infecting viruses. A set of molecular diagnostic tools were developed for the following viruses which are known to infect subterranean clover: Alfalfa mosaic virus; Bean leafroll virus (BLRV); Beet western yellows virus; Bean yellow mosaic virus; Cucumber mosaic virus; Pea seed-borne mosaic virus; Soybean dwarf virus and Subterranean clover stunt virus. Surveys of subterranean clover seed production fields in 2008 in the south-east of South Australia and western Victoria identified Bean leafroll virus, Alfalfa mosaic virus and Cucumber mosaic virus as present, with BLRV the most widespread. Surveys of pasture seed production fields and pasture evaluation trials in 2009 confirmed that BLRV was widespread. This result will allow seed producers to determine whether control measures directed against BLRV will overcome their seed losses. Bluegreen aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi) was implicated as a potential vector of BLRV because it was observed to be colonising lucerne plants adjacent to subterranean clover seed production paddocks with BLRV, and in a glasshouse trial it transmitted BLRV from an infected lucerne plant to subterranean clover in a persistent manner.


2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 757 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. C. Jones

In tests on seed samples from 26 commercial seed stocks of lucerne (Medicago sativa) to be sown in south-western Australia in 2001, infection with Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) was found in 21 and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in 3 of them. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) and Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) were not detected in any. Incidences of infection within individual affected seed samples were 0.1–4% (AMV) and 0.1–0.3% (CMV), and the infected seed stocks were from 3 (CMV) and at least 11 (AMV) different lucerne cultivars. In a survey of 31 three-year-old lucerne pastures in the same region in 2001, in randomly collected samples, AMV was found in 30 and luteovirus infection in 11 pastures. Pastures in high, medium, and low rainfall zones were all infected. Incidences of AMV within individual infected pastures were high, with 50–98% of plants infected in 20 of them and only 3 having <10% infection, but luteovirus incidences were only 1–5%. In addition to various cultivar mixtures, at least 8 (AMV) and 3 (luteoviruses) different individual lucerne cultivars were infected. When the species of luteovirus present were identified, they were Bean leaf roll virus, Beet western yellows virus ( = Turnip yellows virus), or Subterranean clover red leaf virus ( = Soybean dwarf virus). CMV and legume-infecting potyviruses (BYMV, PSbMV, and Clover yellow vein virus) were not detected in any of the lucerne samples. Acyrthosiphon kondoi infestation was common in the samples collected, and A. pisum and Aphis craccivora were also found. Widespread infection in lucerne stands, and their frequent colonisation by aphid vectors, are cause for concern not only because of virus-induced production losses in lucerne itself but also because they provide virus infection reservoirs for spread to nearby grain legume crops and annual legume pastures.


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