scholarly journals Development of clovers that are tolerant to clover root weevil

2005 ◽  
pp. 23-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Crush ◽  
B.M. Cooper ◽  
D.R. Woodfield ◽  
P.J. Gerard
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Grass Growth

Clover root weevil (CRW) has become a major pest of white clover in pastures in much of the North Island. In contemporary, intensively stocked pastures, high volumes of nitrogen (N) cycling through the soil/plant/ animal system stimulate grass growth and reduce the clover content of pastures. Clover root weevil imposes further stresses on clovers. A range of white and red clover germplasm was evaluated f or CRW tolerance from 2002-2005 on Waikato dairy and sheep/beef farms. Results confirmed the importance of good agronomic adaptation if clovers are to survive the additional stress of CRW. Two recently released white clover cultivars (Grasslands Kopu II and Tribute) were amongst the top performing lines under dairy farm grazing. Under sheep/ beef grazing, spreading type red clovers also performed well. A white c lover breeding line selected for tolerance of plant-feeding nematodes was in the top group of clovers at both sites. Reducing stresses on clovers from other pasture pests will contribute to improved tolerance to CRW. A glasshouse experiment showed that CRW larval feeding can severely damage white clover nodules and reduce N fixation. The plants have considerable capacity to grow new nodules but this diverts energy away from other growth processes. Our conclusions are that welladapted, vigorous white clover cultivars are better able to cope with the additional stress imposed by the root weevil. Good pasture management and attention to fertiliser requirements can improve clover survival under root weevil herbivory. New generation red clovers show considerable potential for weevil infested areas. Coselection for tolerance/resistance to other major clover pests e.g. clover flea and root nematodes will improve plant performance under CRW stress. Keywords: clover root weevil, nitrogen fixation, plant breeding, red clover, white clover

scholarly journals Red clover - a legume showing tolerance to clover root weevil

2003 ◽  
pp. 153-156
Author(s):  
B.M. Cooper ◽  
J.R. Crush ◽  
D.R. Woodfield ◽  
B.E. Willoughby ◽  
K.A. Panckhurst
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Lotus Pedunculatus ◽  
Clover Seed ◽  
Potential Tolerance

Clover root weevil (CRW) has now spread through the northern North Island, and south into Taranaki and Hawke's Bay r egions. Sever e infestations can decimate white clover in pasture. In 1998, 2000 and 2002, trials were estab lished on a Warkworth Northland dairy farm to test a range of legume species for resistance or tolerance to CRW damage. Trial lines were regularly assessed for relative vigour and levels of CRW damage. No plant resistance w as identified among white clover, red clover, lucerne, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus or Caucasian clover seed lines. A few lines were adapted to the site and showed tolerance to CRW. Red clover suf fered the least damage and tolerant selections were made from a creeping red clover and nine white clover lines. Two further trials confirmed that red clover showed the least damage. Further cycles of selection are required to develop the potential tolerance shown in field tests. Red clover or a well-adapted white clover offers potential to cope with the CRW stress. Keywords: clover root weevil, clover selections, legume tolerance, Sitona lepidus

scholarly journals Formononetin in clovers as a feeding deterrent against clover root weevil

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 135-139
Author(s):  
Crush Gerard ◽  
S. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Feeding Deterrent ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Root Weevils ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Glasshouse Experiment ◽  
The Impact

The effect of leaf feeding by adult clover root weevils on the isoflavonoid content of red and white clovers was investigated in a glasshouse experiment. Lines of both clovers previously selected for variation in formononetin content were used. A higher percentage of white clover leaves than red clover leaves were damaged by the weevils, and the high formononetin red clover was least readily eaten. The formononetin content of the white clovers did not differ between the selections, was much lower than in the red clovers, and did not change in response to weevil feeding. In both red clover lines, formononetin and biochaninA levels rose in response to weevil feeding, suggesting that both compounds have antifeedant properties against clover root weevil. Because high foliar levels of oestrogenic compounds like formononetin threaten fertility of grazing sheep it is concluded that plant breeding programmes should increase the levels of formononetin and/or biochaninA in clover roots to mitigate the impact of weevil larval feeding on roots and nodules.

scholarly journals Effect of clover root weevil larvae on four annual forage legumes

2007 ◽  
pp. 213-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Crush ◽  
L. Ouyang ◽  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
S. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Species Tolerance ◽  
High Level

The effect of clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus) (CRW) larval feeding on subterranean, suckling, striated and clustered clovers was compared with white clover in a glasshouse experiment. Growth of suckling, striated, and clustered clover was significantly reduced by CRW, approaching the levels of damage recorded in white clover. N fixation in suckling and clustered clovers was also reduced. Growth and nitrogen fixation of two subterranean clovers (cv. Denmark, cv. Leura) were changed relatively little by CRW larval feeding. The relatively high level of the isoflavonoid biochaninA that was present in subterranean clover roots may explain the species' tolerance of CRW. These results suggest that CRW may not pose a major threat to dryland farming systems based on subterranean clover. Keywords: annual clover, clover root weevil, roots, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium glomeratum, Trifolium striatum, Trifolium subterraneum

Comparison of a herbal ley with a ryegrass-white clover pasture and pure ryegrass sward receiving fertiliser nitrogen

1991 ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.E. Ruz-Jerez ◽  
P.Roger Ball ◽  
R.E. White ◽  
P.E.H. Gregg
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Forage Legumes ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Intensively Managed ◽  
Intensive System

This paper compares a herbal ley (of particular interest to farmers involved in the 'organic' branch of agriculture) with a conventional pasture (ryegrass-white clover) and a more intensive system (pure ryegrass receiving 400 kg fertiliser N/ha/yr) in a study lasting 2 years. The herbal ley seeds mixture was prepared following the pioneering ideas of Robert Elliot in his "Clifton ~~ ~~~~~Park"mixture,-whichbasically-included~a-group of 'non-aggressive' grasses, forage legumes and herbs. Pasture production (average of 2 years) from Herbal ley was 15 t DM/ha/yr, representing approximately 90% of the yield from the intensively managed pure ryegrass pasture receiving 400 kg N/ ha&r and some 2530% more than from ryegrassclover. A major feature of the herbal ley was substantialproductionduringlate.springandsummer, when chicory (the most dominant herb), and red clover and white clover made a major contribution to herbage yield. In winter the total yield was similar tothatI?omthegrass-cloverpasture.L.egumecontent was 23 and 3 1% (averaged over the year) for Grassclover and Herbal ley pastures respectively. In spite of this difference, symbiotic N fixation was similar. So fixation efficiency on a legume yield basis was 50.3 and 3 1.6 kg N fixed/t legume DM harvested, respectively. These results could reflect a different pattern of utilisation of soil N, as a consequence of the different botanical composition of the swards. In summary, the performance of the herbal ley offers the promise of an alternative, 'specialist' pasture and would be highly beneficial if quality feed is required in summer. Keywords herbal ley, biological fertility, nitrogen, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, pasture mixtures

Towards improving white clover establishment on farms

2005 ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
J.L. Brock ◽  
J. Mckenzie ◽  
S. Pound
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Sowing Depth ◽  
N Fertility ◽  
Seedbed Preparation

The establishment of new clover-based pastures takes a full year and has two distinct components; seedling emergence from sowing, and subsequent grazing management. A Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project to investigate the causes of inconsistency of white clover establishment concluded this came primarily from a lack of knowledge of white clover in both sowing and grazing management skills, and reflected how far modern farming technology has moved away from clover-based systems towards nitrogen (N)-boosted systems in recent years. Typically, less than half the seed being sown emerges, for both ryegrass and clover, although good results do occur. A trial looking into seedbed conditions on a dairy farm highlighted the importance of good seedbed consolidation in order to accurately control sowing depth, lifting white clover emergence by 50% and ryegrass by 25% using a roller drill. Consolidation did not affect emergence using a triple disc drill, but it did improve quality of sowing by reducing soil drag and spill by the rear coulters causing excessive burial of the front coulters rows. Differences in emergence were still evident in the performance of the clover in the following summer with 14% clover in the areas that had been hard rolled compared to 4% where it had not. In another trial on a hill soil of lower N fertility status, the taking of hay crops in the first summer, not a normally recommended practise, enhanced clover establishment compared to rotational grazing all year. The roles of clover, N fixation and quality feed, are discussed in the context of how and where clover may fit into modern farm systems. Keywords: emergence, establishment, grazing management, seedbed preparation, sowing methods, white clover

scholarly journals Managing white clover for productive and profitable sheep farming in Southland

2000 ◽  
pp. 137-140
Author(s):  
J.P.J. Eerens ◽  
D.L. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Pastoral Farming

White clover is often listed as one of the factors contributing to profitable pastoral farming in New Zealand. The positive aspects of white clover have been presented in a balanced manner in publications by scientists, environmentalists and farmers able to exploit these positive aspects. Increasingly, pastures contain sub-optimal levels of clover, as a result of pasture management that is detrimental to clover, including the increasing use of fertiliser nitrogen. In some regions of New Zealand, farmers can legitimately point to pests such as the clover root weevil and factors such as the ryegrass endophyte as causing restrictions in clover production, but this is less the case in Southland. Environmental conditions in Southland are well suited for ryegrass-white clover pastures. Wellmanaged ryegrass-white clover pastures containing the best regional cultivars can achieve high financial returns. A number of trials at the Gore Research Station are reviewed; they demonstrated that on mixed ryegrass-white clover swards farmers can produce nearly 25% more dry matter, 40% more carcass weight and 25% more wool than on pastures with ryegrass alone receiving 270 kg N/ha/year. The yield advantage would have been greater still if they were compared with typical Southland pastures. Not only was 180 kg more carcass and 17 kg more wool produced per hectare on mixed swards, but nitrogen fixation by clover produced more than $300 worth of nitrogen per hectare. The yield advantage achievable from the ryegrass-white clover swards requires specific pasture management, particularly in spring- summer and the use of adapted white clover cultivars. Keywords: cultivars, Lolium perenne, nitrogen, pasture production, perennial ryegrass, set stocking, Trifolium repens, white clover, wool

scholarly journals Assessing the ability of a stationary pasture height sensing device to estimate pasture growth and biomass

2019 ◽  
pp. 61-68
Author(s):  
Andrew Milsom ◽  
Olivia Bell ◽  
Kris Bailey ◽  
Stuart C. Brown ◽  
Richard A. Barton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Data ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Remote Measurement ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Measuring Device ◽  
Considerable Potential ◽  
Accurate Knowledge

Good pasture management requires an accurate knowledge of whole-farm feedbase, yet most systems for measuring pasture growth are manually operated and time consuming. A newly developed pasture-measuring device enables remote measurement of pasture height on a regular basis. This study investigated the accuracy of such a device compared with a rising plate meter, then assessed the device on a pure perennial ryegrass paddock at a research farm, followed by field testing in a perennial ryegrass/white clover paddock on a commercial dairy farm. A strong correlation (R2 = 0.93) was obtained between collected DM yield and device-derived pasture height within the pure perennial ryegrass paddock but the correlation was weaker (R2 =0.68) with data from the dairy farm perennial ryegrass/white clover paddock. There is considerable potential to improve upon these initial data through the use of adjusted calibrations. Findings demonstrate the device has the potential to accurately estimate pasture growth.

scholarly journals Searching for clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus) resistance/tolerance - A progress report

2001 ◽  
pp. 177-181
Author(s):  
J.P.J. Eerens ◽  
B.M. Cooper ◽  
B.E. Willoughby ◽  
D.R. Woodfield
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Root Damage ◽  
Farm Type ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Shoot Production ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Clover Root

The decimation of white clover in Waikato and Bay of Plenty pastures owing to the invasion clover root weevil (CRW) initiated an extensive screening of legume germplasm to identify plant material that could survive and remain productive under high CRW pressure. A total of 50 000 plants from 275 lines and six species, were planted on seven commercial farms and evaluated for tolerance/ resistance to CRW under conventional farming practices. Plant productivity and level of CRW damage were both highest on white clover. Significant CRW damage was also observed on red clover and caucasian clover, but not on birdsfoot trefoil, lotus major or lucerne. However, the productivity under stock grazing of the latter three species was not sufficient to consider them suitable alternatives to white clover. Within the white clover lines there was encouraging variability in the level of CRW damage, and in the ratio of damage to shoot production. While root damage is of greater importance than shoot damage, the latter reflects CRW activity and egg deposition and is a good indicator of likely larval development and root damage. Factors such as farm type (dairy farms versus dry stock farms) had some influence on shoot production, but very little influence on CRW damage. Climatic conditions appeared to have strong influences on clover shoot production and CRW damage, with dry conditions from late spring to early autumn having a particularly suppressive effect on CRW damage and CRW population growth. Top performing lines have been selected from this screening and are currently being evaluated in more detail under high CRW pressure. Keywords: clover, clover root weevil, plant screening, Sitona lepidus, tolerance, Trifolium repens

Effects of clover root weevil and moisture stress on subterranean, balansa, Persian, arrowleaf and white clovers

2008 ◽  
pp. 255-257
Author(s):  
J.R. Crush ◽  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
L. Ouyang ◽  
D.J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Root Herbivory ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Glasshouse Experiment

The effect on plant growth of clover root weevil (CRW) larval feeding on nodules and roots was examined for the annual clovers, subterranean cv. Leura, balansa cv. Bolta, arrowleaf cv. Arrowtas and Persian cv. Mihi, and white clover cv. Tribute. Mini-swards of each clover species were used in a glasshouse experiment, with half of these exposed to CRW larval feeding. Keywords: Sitona lepidus, root herbivory, annual clovers, drought

scholarly journals Feeding habituation to red clover by clover root weevil adults

2003 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 129-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
J.R. Crush
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Feeding Preferences ◽  
Adult Feeding ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Laboratory Trial

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) has been observed to persist longer than white clover (T repens) during field screening of legumes for tolerance of clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus) It has been suggested that this is linked to adult feeding preferences A laboratory trial was undertaken to confirm the feeding preference for white clover over red and to determine whether adults became habituated to red clover over time Groups of clover root weevil adults were caged on either white clover cv Grasslands Huia or 3 lines of Grasslands Pawera red clover At weeks 2 4 6 and 8 subsamples of adults were removed from the cages and were subjected to a 24 h choice test It was found that although adults showed a strong preference for white clover those that had been continuously fed red clover were more likely to feed on red clover in the choice test than those that had previously been fed white clover

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