BEANSTALK December 2008 Centre for in Mediterranean AgricultureVolume 9, No Newsletter 2 BEANSTALK Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Newsletter

Climate change in Africa

Contents

Feature article Climate change in Africa ...... 1

Director’s report ...... 2

Research reports Speeding breeding in pasture legumes ..... 3 Champion farmer and champion runner . 4 4th year student projects ...... 5 Subclover project meeting ...... 6 Environmental stress workshop ...... 7

Visitors A Peruvian extols lupin diversity ...... 8 Visitors table ...... 9

NEWS OF ASSOCIATES Dr Ken Street of ‘The seed hunter’ ...... 10 Dr Renuka Shrestha ...... 10

Reports on conferences Lupin conference ...... 11 A typical smallholder farm in the hills near Nairobi, Kenya, demonstrating Mutation conference ...... 12 the widespread use of agroforestry. Publications ...... 13 by Neil Turner

From May to July 2008, I spent 3 months eastern Africa (largely due to an increase grown by farmers at these elevations. The at the World Agroforestry Centre in intense storms), while rainfall is alternative of growing coffee under shade (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya advising the predicted to decrease in southern Africa is being trialed, but the consequences of centre and the International Crops and the number of periods without rain greater competition for water will need Research Institute for the Semi-Arid to increase, particularly at the beginning to be evaluated. Agroforestry is also Tropics (ICRISAT) on research needs of the rainy season. being promoted for its carbon mitigation benefits, but in a warming and drying to address issues on ‘Adaptation to While agroforestry interventions will world these benefits could be reduced Climate Change by Smallholder Farmers buffer small-holder farmers against or short-lived as experience in Europe in Eastern and Southern Africa.’ The these changes because of their perennial has shown that forests that were carbon climate of Africa is already warming nature, there will be impacts of climate sinks became carbon sources in the hot and dry spells are becoming longer. change on agroforestry systems. For and dry summer of 2003, reversing the Recent climate change scenarios predict example, higher temperatures will affect carbon gains of the previous 5 years. that mean temperatures will rise by the quality and price of highland coffee 1°C by 2030 and by 3 to 4°C by the which is grown by smallholder farmers While in Nairobi, I evaluated the impact end of the 21st century. While global as well as commercial companies at of warming temperatures on two of circulation models predict rainfall with altitudes from 1600-2800 m. Growing ICRISAT’s mandate crops, sorghum and greater uncertainty, rainfall is predicted coffee at higher elevations to avoid the pigeonpea, using the APSIM models for to increase by about 5% in tropical higher temperatures will displace the tea these two crops. Working with ICRISAT continued on page 3

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DIRECTOR’S report

Publications continue to flow from CLIMA research giving a tally of 23 scientific journal articles and 20 edited conference proceeding contributions in 2008. CLIMA had three 4th year agriculture student theses this year: Ms Amy Goddard Borger (supervised by Heather Clarke) who worked on grain cropping traits of Australian native legumes - Cullen and Trigonella; Mr Troy Faithful (supervised by Kioumars Ghamkar) who studied hard seeded-ness and phylogeny in sub- clover; and Ms Nateisha Norrish (supervised by Jon Clements) who researched early vigour in narrow-leafed lupin. Mr Vasanth Garela Kumar registered for his MSc degree with a thesis entitled Shortening the Generation Cycle of Chickpea and Field Pea supervised by Heather Clarke, Janine Croser and myself. We’ve had news from a recent CLIMA PhD Dr Renuka Shrestha that on her return to Nepal she’s been appointed as National Coordinator for Grain Legumes Research Program (NGLRP). Prof. William Erskine Very recently (Nov 2008), two varieties of lentil (Bharati and [email protected] Sagun) and two varieties of chickpea (Tara and Avrodhi) were released for mid-hill and terai environments, respectively in Record food prices and associated riots in several developing Nepal, based on joint research by NGLRP, CLIMA and ICARDA, countries hit the headlines in the first half of 2008, but the funded by ACIAR. economic crisis has eclipsed food security latterly. Climate change has continued to be widely covered by the media. As visiting scientists, CLIMA has hosted two Endeavour Scholars Legumes can contribute to the alleviation of food security by Dr Mehrshad Barary (Ilam University, Iran) studying drought providing income, farm diversification, high protein food/feed tolerance in lupins with Jon Clements and Jairo Palta (CSIRO), and a low carbon footprint from their reducing and Dr Maya Kumari (Banaras Hindu University, India) to the need for fossil-derived fertilizer nitrogen. carry out research in wide crosses between chickpea and its wild relatives with Heather Clarke. Additionally, Dr Xiangwen A highlight of the last six months was the International Lupin Fang from the University of Langzhou, China is at CLIMA for Conference held in Fremantle September 14-18, 2008. The a year, to study chickpea drought tolerance with Professors conference brought together over 150 delegates from around Siddique and Turner. the world. The conference, co-convened by Mark Sweetingham (DAFWA) and Jon Clements (CLIMA) had the theme “Lupins William Erskine was Assistant Director General for health and wealth” and covered a wide range of topics (Research) at the International Center for Agricultural including breeding, agronomy, animal and human health and Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria and, nutrition. CLIMA/UWA was a sponsor of the Conference and since January 2008, Director of the Centre for Legumes several CLIMA staff contributed oral presentations. in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) and of the We have received a number of new research grants in the last International Centre for Breeding Education and six months. Two new projects from GRDC started: Improving Research (ICPBER). herbicide tolerance in break crops with myself as supervisor and Scottish born and raised on a farm near St Andrews, Dr Ping Si as research scientist for three years and the other on William completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1973, a Masters Higher yielding elite lines of pearl lupin for Australian agriculture of Agriculture in 1976 and a PhD (University of Cambridge, for three years with Dr Bevan Buirchell (DAFWA) as supervisor Department of Applied Biology) in 1979. and Dr Jon Clements as research scientist. A new project to continue the rehabilitation of agricultural research in Iraq with He has since gained over 30 years experience world-wide AusAid funding through an ACIAR project at ICARDA was in agricultural research and has published widely with more secured by Professor Siddique. In Iraq the project will concentrate than 120 papers in international journals. on improving cropping systems introducing no-till agronomy, while He serves on the Editorial Boards of The Journal of Agriculture in Australia the focus is on capacity building. We received a grant Science, Experimental Agriculture and The Australian Journal of from the Avon Catchment Council on Adaptation to sustainable Agricultural Research. He is an elected Fellow of the Institute farming systems through the adoption of Lucerne. In 2008, we of Biology, U.K. and of the National Academy of Agricultural have on-going research activities from a total of 16 research Sciences, India. He was given an Award for Service in Lentils grants. A considerable number of fresh project proposals were by the Minister of Agriculture, Bangladesh in 2005. submitted to a range of potential donors in the period.

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CLIMATE CHANGE IN AFRICA continued from page 1

decrease in rainfall increased the number of failed crops (less than 200kg/ha) at the driest site in Zimbabwe, but not at the two wetter sites. Due to the faster growth and shorter time to maturity, the increased temperatures increased the water left in the at the end of the growing season and genotypes with a longer time to flowering and maturity gave higher yields at the warmer temperatures. However, the impact of these and other genotypic changes were smaller than the benefits provided by improved management (conservation farming and higher levels of fertilizer) leading to the conclusion that the impact of climate change for smallholder farmers can in the first instance Neil getting friendly with a black rhinoceros at be mitigated by better agronomic management and increased Ol Pejeta Conservancy Park, Kenya. inputs. staff in Nairobi and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the effects of a rise Pigeonpea is a and fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere in temperature of 1 to 5°C and a 10% increase or decrease in and is usually grown as an inter-row crop in association with daily rainfall were modeled for three locations in Zimbabwe maize or sorghum. It is therefore less able to be managed to and two locations in Kenya. The results showed that increasing mitigate yield losses from warming and drying temperatures. temperatures decreased sorghum yields at all three locations in Shorter season increased the yields of pigeonpea, but Zimbabwe, but increased yields in Kenya where temperatures whether this would fit into the farming system for pigeonpea were below the optimum for sorghum growth. As expected, a needs evaluation.

research reports

Speeding breeding in pasture legumes by Janine Croser and Marie Claire Castello CLIMA, DAFWA and Future Farm Industries CRC researchers Dr MarieClaire Castello, Dr Janine Croser, Dr Daniel Real, Dr Clinton Revell, Dr Phil Nichols, Mr Brad Nutt and Dr Angelo Loi have joined forces to undertake a pilot project examining ways to accelerate generation cycles in key WA pasture legumes with funding from CLIMA. One technique under examination is the generation acceleration protocol (GAP) to induce flowering and seed set in vitro. Following in vitro seed set, the immature seeds are removed from the plant and germinated back into an in vitro environment. Avoiding the seed maturation phase can result in significant time-savings. The number of days to flowering can also be French serradella showing in vitro pod development. decreased via manipulation of physical and chemical parameters during culture, particularly the photoperiod and the plant growth regulator composition. Preliminary results have shown French serradella (Ornithopus sativus) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) to be particularly amenable to this technique. Successful germination of in vitro derived seed has been achieved in French serradella. This technique will complement traditional breeding approaches such as single seed descent. It also provides a method of accelerating homozygosity in the absence of a doubled haploid protocol for these species. Development of a doubled haploid system based on recent successes in grain legumes chickpea and field pea is also under investigation for the pasture legumes Tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) and French serradella. In vitro grown French serradella seed germinating in culture.

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research reports

Champion farmer and champion runner by Harry Nesbitt

Zeferino Mira Belo looks like your maize in the dry season, selling the fresh recent 10km fun run in Dili, Zeferino average farmer, but really he is leading corn at a premium. The local corn has joined the Seeds of Life team in the pack on farm and on the running small cobs and sells for about US50c competing for the First Lady’s Cup. and cycling scene in Dili. His neighbours for 8 cobs. The new variety sells at 5 Amongst hundreds of runners, Zeferino are constantly trying to catch up with cobs for the same US50c. The cobs are arrived at the finish line as the 8th him. bought by traders to sell roast corn fastest. At a recent bike ride for peace, on the beach in Dili and sometimes ACIAR/AusAID supported “Seeds of Zeferino was the fastest bicycle rider they sell roast corn as a snack food at Life” project staff member Baslilio for his district in Baucau. Whether on cock fights. Pereira first met Zeferino in 2006 and his bike, running along the road, or talked about the new varieties of corn, It is also in the sporting arena that growing corn, Zeferino is a difficult man peanuts and sweet potato the program Zeferino has people following. At a to keep up with. was testing with farmers. Together they marked out small plots in his mixed garden just outside his back door. It is there they planted his first crop of Sele. Sele is a high yielding yellow maize, adapted well to East Timor. In the first year, the new maize varieties yielded twice as much as the local corn that he was planting. He was so impressed. But the initial plots were quite small, and there was not much seed for next year. He devised a plan where he could grow the new varieties in the dry season. This was not an easy task as he had to carry water in a wheel barrow more than 100m to irrigate the corn. But the extra work was well worth it. Not only did the crops grow well, the large yellow cobs were highly prized as a fresh corn. Traders were soon paying a premium for the large fresh cobs, that are quite scarce during the dry season. During the initial testing, each farmer only received 200g of the new varieties. Many of Zeferino’s neighbours chose not to be involved in the Seeds of Life program, as they only received the small handful of seed. But after they saw Zeferino selling fresh corn cobs during the dry season, they soon lined up to get seed from him. Zeferino now has his neighbours following his lead, growing the new

Zeferino Mira Belo at the end of the race with Rob Williams, SoL team leader.

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research reports

4th Year student projects with CLIMA Ms Nateisha Norrish completed a good 4th year project entitled (CLIMA) and Megan Ryan (Plant Biology, Early vigour in narrow-leafed UWA) and Mr Richard Snowball lupins – water use efficiency (DAFWA). and seed characteristics as part Amy’s results suggest that T. suavissima of her Bachelor of Science in deserves further attention, since Agriculture concluding in 2008. it displayed early phenology and The project was supervised by Dr produced abundant seed by avoiding Jon Clements (CLIMA) with co- terminal drought. It could be suitable supervision from Dr Erik Veneklaas for marginal farming land, uneconomical (Plant Biology, UWA) and Dr Bevan for current grain legume crops, in Buirchell (DAFWA). The objectives the dry areas of southern Australia. of the research were two-fold: to Cullen cinereum and C. graveolens investigate if high vigour narrow- exhibited good tolerance under severe drought, continuing to grow and leafed lupin genotypes have photosynthesise while many other higher water use efficiency than Ms Amy Goddard Borger species wilted. Overall, the harvest the common Mandelup; index was low in wild species when and to determine whether high Grain potential and drought response compared to a domesticated grain crop vigour genotypes had a higher of the Australian native legumes were but, surprisingly, pods did not shatter. seed weight, seed density, or larger the focus of a glasshouse and laboratory embryonic axis than non-vigorous based study undertaken by Ms Amy Amy was awarded a GRDC scholarship types. Water use efficiency, in Goddard Borger. The 4th year project and a DAFWA studentship for her 4th was supervised by Drs Heather Clarke year program. both well watered and drought treatments, was greater in high vigour genotypes in comparison to Mandelup. Biology UWA). Troy’s project dealt High vigour genotypes produced with measuring hardseededness (seed germination tests) in two populations more biomass under well watered of subterranean clover (Trifolium and drought conditions compared subterraneum) and simultaneously with the other genotypes, including looking at this trait in 15 cultivars of Mandelup. High vigour genotypes this species. In the latter study, Troy had the highest seed weight used the already available red clover and the longest embryonic axis microsatellite markers for detecting compared to all other genotypes. possible associations between these Seed density was not associated markers and hardseededness. This trait with vigour, but embryonic axis is recognised by breeders as one of length appears to bear some the important agricultural traits in the correlation with the genotypes’ species. Troy’s study found five markers potential for vigorous growth. associated with hardseededness, three The results highlighted that there Mr Troy Faithful of them specific to this trait. Further are genotypes of narrow-leafed investigation will show whether the lupin with improved early vigour detected markers are located in Mr Troy Faithful successfully finished combined with higher water use the relevant QTL regions of the his 4th year project with Dr Kioumars efficiency. These characteristics Ghamkhar as the principal supervisor genome that control this trait. Troy also could contribute to higher narrow- and co-supervised by Drs Phil Nichols confidently defended his results in his leafed lupin yields in drought prone (DAFWA) and Megan Ryan (Plant interview. Well done, Troy. environments in southern Australia. Ms Norrish has gone on to take up CLIMA SEMINAR SERIES employment with an agribusiness products and service company in The CLIMA seminar series continues on a monthly basis. Please contact Janine Croser [email protected] to suggest topics and speakers. WA.

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research reports

Catching up with collaborators in genomics and genetics research of subterranean clover by Kioumars Ghamkhar

In July 2006, the Australian Research Council (ARC) awarded prompted the arrangement of a meeting half way through Linkage Project funding to researchers at CLIMA and the the project. Collaborators gathered at CLIMA for a full day School of Plant Biology at UWA, the Centre for Comparative meeting with Professor William Erskine (CLIMA director) and Genomics at Murdoch University, DAFWA, CSIRO Plant Dr Clinton Revell (Pasture Group Leader at DAFWA). Some Industry in Canberra, and Kazusa DNA Research Institute of the members of the research group met for the first time (KDRI) in Japan. The aims were to exploit molecular and very exciting and fruitful discussions caused the meeting techniques and markers for measuring genetic diversity of to finish a little later than was originally planned! a world collection of subterranean clover and to explore I was also given a new title by Professor Erskine: “the Glue potential linkages between these markers and important agro- of the project” who brought the research team together. I morphological traits in this species. Linkage projects need an personally benefitted from the discussions and continued to industry partner to jointly support the project with the ARC. do so over the next few days after further meetings with my DAFWA has been generously supporting this project from the guests (Drs Tony Brown from CSIRO and Sachiko Isobe from starting date (July 2007), due to its interest in the outputs and KDRI) and the “in-house” team members, during separate longer term outcomes of the project. one to one discussions. I truly enjoyed this experience and Over the last 1.5 years and even before this project started, look forward to the next one at the end of the project. And excellent communication and correspondence between the … even more exciting news: the team has already agreed on different parties resulted in better than expected progress preparing another ARC project proposal for submission in in the project. Nevertheless, a need for all research partners November 2009, to be co-funded by the Japanese Society for to meet and discuss progress and plan future directions Promotion of Science (JSPS).

L to R: Professor Rudi Appels (CCG, Murdoch University), Dr Clinton Revell (DAFWA), Dr Tony Brown (CSIRO, Canberra), Dr Phil Nichols (DAFWA), Dr Sachiko Isobe (KDRI), Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar (CLIMA), Professor Willie Erskine (CLIMA), and Mr Richard Snowball (DAFWA) in the mid-term ARC project meeting at CLIMA.

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research reports

Brainstorming grain crops, yield and environmental stress at flowering by Heather Clarke

Workshop participants: Front row, left to right: JS Sandhu (Punjab Agricultural University, India), Jairo Palta (CSIRO), Jagmeet Kaur (PAU), Harsh Nayyar (Panjab University, India), Sanjeev Kumar (PU), Heather Clarke (CLIMA, UWA), Kadambot Siddique (Institute of Agriculture, UWA). Back row: Willie Erskine (CLIMA), Jens Berger (CSIRO), Steve Milroy (CSIRO), Peter White (DAFWA), Rudy Dolferus (CSIRO Canberra), Tanveer Khan (DAFWA), Zhiqun Huang (UWA). Rebecca Parsons (CSIRO) behind the camera.

Fifteen minds came together at CLIMA in October to brainstorm his recent work in cereal pollen sterility due to drought and the issue of yield loss due to environmental stress. Colleagues cold stress. A major conclusion of the CLIMA workshop was came from as far away as the Punjab region in India and CSIRO that the latest advances in rice and wheat research will benefit Canberra Australia, and nearby from DAFWA, CSIRO and grain legume research, and vice versa that knowledge and tools UWA. New collaborations were forged with determination developed at CLIMA for legume improvement will benefit to tackle the complex problems of achieving tolerance to cereal research. various environmental stresses. Several factors were revealed in common across research groups, species and stresses. The session may well have ‘yielded brain loss due to work stress’ had our competent facilitator and CLIMA director, Prof. Willie The morning started with an update of current research Erskine, not kept us to the agenda. There’s no doubt that the covering the topics of climate change, pulse and cereal exercise was extremely useful to the whole group, who were production, environmental constraints, pollen sterility due to still smiling by the end of the day for a group photo. Look out drought in cereals and the role of plant growth regulators, for future developments in CLIMA newsletters as participants gamete sensitivity to extreme temperatures across species, develop new collaborative projects in this area for cereal and drought and salinity in chickpea, before moving on to under- grain legume improvement. utilised tools for breeders including pollen selection and eco-geographical approaches. Once everyone shared the Travel costs for participants from India and Canberra were same knowledge, we moved to discussion where issues were sponsored by CSIRO and an Indo-Australian Department of prioritised and commonalities were identified across species. In Education Science and Training project. The workshop was the afternoon, Dr Rudy Dolferus presented a seminar detailing sponsored by CLIMA.

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visitors

A Peruvian tells of huge crop diversity in the land of the Incas by Jon Clements

Mr Enrique Tapia visited CLIMA at The University of Western Australia recently, on a Crawford Fund training award. Mr Tapia is an agronomist from the National University of the Altiplano, Puno, Perú where he works with Dr Angel Mujica on several of the enormous range of native food crops which include lupins, potatoes, corn, quinoa, amaranth and beans. His visit was part of research into developing the Andean lupin ( mutabilis or pearl lupin) in Australia, with the aim of developing international collaboration with Peru. This research hopes to assess the genetic diversity of the lupin species to learn more about the habitats that it is most adapted to, and also plant characteristics that are associated with increased harvest index and yield. In GRDC-funded research (through CLIMA with Dr Jon Clements and DAFWA with Dr Bevan Buirchell), the Andean lupin is being bred for Australian conditions. It is hoped that preliminary collaborative genotype by environment studies with Peru and Australia will lead to a larger project that will do more detailed work on what is expected to be very diverse germplasm within that lupin species and the approximately two hundred related lupin species from South and North America. Mr Tapia described a group of approximately 20 related lupin species growing in regions surrounding Puno, which had many different seed and growth characteristics which may be of value to Andean lupin breeding. Mr Tapia has also been involved with research into quinoa, a gluten-free healthy grain from the Andean region which is likely to gain more attention in the future. Mr Tapia gave a well-received seminar at CLIMA during which the audience were treated to several hundred photos of Andean crop and animal diversity. The visit is likely to lead to further germplasm and knowledge exchange Mr Enrique Tapia visiting Andean lupin trials at Manjimup between Australia and Peru. research station.

Cultivated Andean lupin growing in the high Altiplano with wild genotypes growing nearby.

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Visitors to CLIMA from July to December 2008

Name of visitor Date Institution/ Country Purpose of visit Name of host Ms Safa Al Hinaai 21st June - Sultan Qaboos To undertake training in Dr Heather Clarke & 19 Aug University, Oman interspecific hybridisation Prof. Kadambot Siddique Prof. Roberto Tuberosa 19-22 Aug University of Bologna, To visit and engage with breeders Prof. Neil Turner Italy and molecular scientists at DAFWA, CSIRO, UWA and Murdoch University Dr Andrew Harris & 21 Aug University of Sydney To discuss potential projects in Dr Heather Clarke Ms Roza Bali nanotechnology Dr Ken Street 9-10 Sept ICARDA, Syria To discuss genetic resources Prof. Clive Francis research Dr Alghamdi 8 Sept King Saud University To discuss research & teaching Prof. William Erskine Dr Alhussein (KSU) Saudi Arabia collaboration between KSU and CLIMA Dr Colin Hughes 10 – 20 Sept University of Oxford, International lupin Conference and Dr Jon Clements England lupin germplasm workshop Prof. Ewa Sawicka- 13 – 26 Sept Wroclaw University of International lupin conference, Dr Jon Clements Sienkiewicz & Dr Renata Environmental & Life lupin germplasm workshop Galek Sciences, Poland and discussions regarding lupin interspecific crossing project Dr Maria Campos 14 – 19 Sept National Agriculture International lupin conference and Dr Jon Clements Andrada Station, Lisbon, Portugal lupin germplasm workshop Dr Bunyamin Tar’an 22 – 26 Sept Crop Development To discuss lupin and pulse genetic Adj. Prof. Tanveer Khan Centre, Uni. of improvement Saskatchewan, Canada Dr Livinder Kaur 22 – 26 Sept Punjab Agricultural To discuss chickpea genetic Adj. Prof. Tanveer Khan University, Ludhiana, improvement India Dr Dai Sutter 29 Sept George Weston Project meeting for a RIRDC Dr Heather Clarke Technologies project George Weston Foods Discuss potential for new Ltd. NSW collaboration Dr Rudi Dolferus 6 – 10 Oct CSIRO Plant Industry, To discuss stress tolerance research Dr Heather Clarke Canberra Dr JS Sandhu 6 Oct PU, Chandigarh, India To undertake a pulse breeder Dr Jens Berger Dr J Kaur meeting and to discuss plant Dr Harsh Nayyar physiology Dr CLL Gowda 11 – 18 Oct ICRISAT, India To discuss chickpea genetic Adj. Prof. Tanveer Khan Dr Pooran Gaur improvement Dr Suresh Pande Dr Hari Sharma 14 Oct ICRISAT, India To meet with CLIMA staff regarding Dr Heather Clarke integrated pest management in chickpea Mr Enrique Ruiz Tapia 1 Nov - 15 University of Puno, Peru Lupin and quinoa germplasm Dr Jon Clements Dec collaboration and training Dr John Harvey & 3 Nov GRDC To discuss CLIMAs legume research Prof. William Erskine Mr Neil Young A/Prof. RL Ravikumar 11 – 13 Nov University of To meet with CLIMA staff Dr Heather Clarke Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India

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Name of visitor Date Institution/ Country Purpose of visit Name of host Dr Tony Brown 11-16 Nov CSIRO Plant Industry, ARC linkage project meeting Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar Canberra Dr Sachiko Isobe 11-18 Nov Kazusa DNA Research ARC linkage project meeting and Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar Institute future collaboration Dr Brian Keating 18 Nov CSIRO Sustainable Cooperation on legumes in systems Prof. William Erskine Ecosystems Dr Toshihiro Hasegawa 21 Nov National Institute for Climate change research Prof. William Erskine Agro-environmental Science, Tsukuba, Japan Prof. Geo Xin Cai & 28 Nov Lanzhou University, Cooperation in legume research Prof. William Erskine Dr Wei Li China Dr Dyno Keatinge 11 Dec World Vegetable Centre, Cooperation in grain legumes Prof. William Erskine Taiwan Mr Ryohei Kataoka 16 -18 Dec Kobe University, Japan Discussing new project ideas of Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar collaboration

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATES

The Seed Hunter inspires everyone from school kids to scientists by Clive Francis ‘The Seed Hunter’, edited by Ms Sally Ingleton of 360 Degree through the financial support of ACIAR (Australian Centre for Films, which featured the ACIAR supported collection of plant International Agricultural Research) and CLIMA. The series of genetic resources in Tajikistan and transfer of seed to an Ice collection missions in the Central Asian Republics and Caucasus Cave in Svalbard Norway, has won two prestigious awards since were coordinated by Dr Ken Street, now of the International its release. It has been judged the winner in the category Best Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA). The Science, Environment and Technology Documentary in the 2008 infrastructure support of Ms Natalya Rukhkyan at The Institute Australian Teachers of Media Awards (ATOM). The film has also of Botany, Yerevan, Armenia, and availability of specialist staff of won the Special Development Prize at the Vaasa Wildlife Film the Vavilov Institute, St Petersburg, Russia, were major factors Festival in Finland (2008), and is an entry at The Earth Vision in the success of the missions. Film Festival, Japan (2009). Ken, with the support of Ms Ingleton, has produced a blog The film was a great success when broadcast on National TV designed to address some of the ‘Seed Hunter’ deficiencies in Australia. The ‘Seed Hunter’ himself, Dr Ken Street, notes for and notes Ken’s training for his PhD at the UWA Institute reasons of popular appeal, ‘The Seed Hunter’ referred only to of Agriculture under the supervision of pasture specialist grain crop species cereals and chickpea, and failed to mention Professor Phil Cocks and the key role of another pasture guru pasture species, despite the numerous collections made during Prof Clive Francis in initiating the Central Asia and Caucasus the course of the CLIMA initiated project. This project has seen project. the introduction of over 4000 crop and pasture species into Full details of the follow up to ‘The Seed Hunter’ can be seen Australian collections. on the internet: http://www.seedhunter.com/article-so-what- The numerous collection missions were made possible about-pastures.html

Graduate leads legume research in Nepal

Dr Renuka Shrestha has been a key player in CLIMA’s long project, was supported by the Crawford Fund. During this running ACIAR project in Nepal “Lentil and Lathyrus in time, Professor Neil Turner was her major supervisor. the cropping systems of Nepal” (CSI/1999/064). Recently, Renuka is now based at Rampur just north of the tiger Renuka was appointed leader of the National Grain country near Chitwan. She maintains close links with Legumes Research Program (NGLRP). Renuka, who CLIMA and can be contacted at: nglrp_rampur@hotmail. completed her PhD at CLIMA (UWA)/CSIRO during the com

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REPORTS ON CONFERENCES

The 12th International Lupin Conference by Jon Clements

Delegates attending the Wongan Hills Research Station field tour listen to DAFWA Senior Lupin Breeder, Dr Bevan Buirchell speaking about narrow-leafed lupin breeding in Western Australia.

The 12th International Lupin Conference drinks. Although global production of Hughes highlighted the enormous was held in Fremantle September 14-18. lupins has declined since the 1996-2000 species diversity available in lupins, The conference brought together over period, new opportunities such as food especially from North and South 150 delegates from within Australia and and aquaculture end-uses and the role America, that many people have not around the world. Co-convened by of lupins in providing soil nitrogen could been aware of. A symposium “Lupins Mark Sweetingham and Jon Clements revive interest in the crop for profitable & Diabesity: Food For Thought” with an organising committee made up and sustainable agricultural systems. organised by the Centre for Food and of staff from DAFWA, CSIRO, UWA Currently, the major lupin-producing Genomic Medicine, Western Australian and industry groups, the conference countries are Australia, Chile, Poland Institute for Medical Research was with the theme “Lupins for health and and France. Use of lupins as a forage has attended both by the public and wealth” covered a wide range of topics recently increased in the UK. Plenary delegates and it raised awareness of including breeding, agronomy, animal and speaker, Dr Soon-Bin Neoh, a director the potential of lupins in healthy diets. human health and nutrition. Sponsors of a flour mill company in Malaysia, gave Field tours were organised to Wongan included Agricultural Research Western a list of recommendations for future Hills Research Station and a “Lupin Australia (ARWA), the Grainpool, lupin development to promote their Processing” tour took in several Perth GRDC, the CRC for Plant Biosecurity, sites including the lupin dehulling plant use in food. These included increasing DAFWA, UWA and CLIMA. Several in Forestfield. A number of delegates the protein content of narrow-leafed CLIMA staff and associates gave oral attended post-conference meetings lupin to levels similar to yellow lupin, presentations. Some highlights included including a molecular marker use and decreasing seed coat, promoting further the use of lupins for promoting human implementation workshop at UWA, a the health claims for lupins, more health (lowering cholesterol and obesity) lupin germplasm discussion session held marketing and application research and and the versatility of lupins for use in at CLIMA, an aquaculture workshop and better promotion into the aquaculture foods such as bread, noodles and pasta, a food and health meeting. It has been and pig feed industries. sausages, snack foods and in commodities proposed that the next conference be such as chocolate and milk substitute A paper by CLIMA visitor, Dr Colin held in Poland in 2011.

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REPORTS ON CONFERENCES

The International Symposium on Induced Mutations in (12 -15 August 2008, Vienna, Austria) by Ping Si

Catch-up with classmates at the mutation conference after more than two decades. L to R: Ping Si of CLIMA, Yunbi Xu of CIMMYT, Mexico and Jiwen Zhang of Zhejiang University, China.

This recent international conference on induced mutations of inducing mutation have evolved from simple exposure to in plants was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture radiation or chemical mutagens to the reach of out space Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy by satellites. There were enormous numbers of successful Agency (IAEA) of the UN and held at the IAEA headquarters examples of mutation breeding for the improvement of plants in Vienna, Austria with the high security measures standard to for human benefits, ranging from food production, nutrition to the UN complexes. More than 460 delegates representing 82 adaptation to climate change. According to the records of FAO/ countries and 9 UN organizations attended this conference. IAEA, over 2700 new crop varieties in some 170 species have China sent the largest group of more than 50 scientists. Five been officially released to farmers over the last 50 years. The out of seven Australian delegates of various states presented simple procedures of chemically induced mutation joining forces their research to the large audience. Prof Peter Gresshoff of with molecular technologies have generated new technologies The University of Queensland addressed a plenary session on such as TILLING and reverse genetics. These technologies have “Mutational and functional genomic analysis of systemic and allowed the identification of more variation in various traits local regulation of legume nodulation”. My oral presentation than has been detected in the previous 25 years and better on induced lupin mutants with improved metribuzin tolerance understanding of the complex interactions between individual was well received in the Concurrent Session 1 “Mutational genes and between genes and environment. Scientists have also enhancement of genetic diversity and crop domestication”. made progress towards better understanding of mutagenesis Several people said to me afterwards that they would try my mechanisms in terms of DNA damage, repair and genome method when they got back home. stability. Before the end of the conference, I was fully convinced This conference was a good forum for learning. Many new that induced mutation is an effective tool not only for plant technologies and much knowledge have been generated since improvement, but also for understanding various biological the last conference of this kind held in 1995. The methods processes.

Volume 9 No.2 December 2008 12 BEANSTALK Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Newsletter

CLIMA PUBLICATIONS 2008

Journal Articles

Byrne, O.M.T., Hardie, D.C., Khan, T.N., Speijers, J., and Jones, R.A.C., Pearce, R.M., Prince, R.T., and Coutts, B.A. Yan, G. (2008). Genetic analysis of pod and seed resistance to pea (2008). Natural resistance to Alfalfa mosaic virus in different lupin weevil in a Pisum sativum x P. fulvum interspecific cross. Australian species. Australian Plant Pathology 37, 112-116. Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 854-862. Lin, R., Yang, H., Khan, T.N., Siddique, K.H.M, and Yan, Chen, S., Nelson, M., Ghamkhar, K., Fu, T., and Cowling, W. G. (2008). Characterisation of genetic diversity and DNA (2008). Divergent patterns of allelic diversity from similar origins: fingerprinting of Australian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars the case of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in China and Australia. using MFLP markers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, Genome 51, 1-10. 707-713. Coutts, B.A., Prince, R.T., and Jones, R.A.C. (2008). Further Maling, T., Diggle, A.J., Thackray, D.J., Siddique, K.H.M., and studies on Pea seed-borne mosaic virus in cool-season crop Jones, R.A.C. (2008). An Epidemiological Model for Externally legumes: responses to infection and seed quality defects. Australian Sourced Vector-Borne Viruses Applied to Bean yellow mosaic Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 1130-1145. virus in Lupin Crops in a Mediterranean-Type Environment. Danehloueipour, N., Clarke, H.J., Yan, G., Khan, T.N., and Phytopathology 98, 1280-1290. Siddique, K.H.M. (2008). Leaf type is not associated with Nasar-Abbas, S.M., Plummer, J.A., Siddique, K.H.M., White, ascochyta blight disease in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Eyphytica P., Harris, D., and Dods, K. (2008). Cooking quality of faba bean 162, 281-289. after storage at high temperature and the role of lignins and other Edwards, O.R., Franzmann, B., Thackray, D.J., and Micic, S. phenolics in bean hardening. LWT-Food Science and Technology 41, (2008). Insecticide resistance and implications for future aphid 1260-1267. management in Australian grains and pastures: a review. Australian Nasar-Abbas, S.M., Plummer, J.A., White, P., Siddique, Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1523-1530. K.H.M., D’Antuono, M., Harris, D., and Dods, K. (2008). EL-Bouhssini, M., Sarker, A., Erskine, W., and Joubi, A. (2008). Effect of site, harvesting stage, and genotype on environmental First sources of resistance to Sitona weevil (Sitona crinitus Herbst) staining in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural in wild Lens species. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 55, 1-4. Research 59, 365-373. Ghamkhar, K., Snowball, R., Wintle, B.J., and Brown, A.H.D. Nasar-Abbas, S.M., Plummer, J.A., Siddique, K.H.M., (2008). Strategies for developing a core collection of bladder clover White, P., Harris, D., and Dods, K. (2008). Nitrogen retards (Trifolium spumosum L.) using ecological and agro-morphological and oxygen accelerates colour darkening in faba bean (Vicia faba data. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 1103-1112. L.) during storage. Postharvest Biology and Technology 47, 113-118. Glencross, B., Hawkins, W., Evans, D., Rutherford, N., Nichols, P.G.H., You, M., and Barbetti, M.J. (2008). Resistance McCafferty, P., Dods, K., and Sipsas, S. (2008). Assessing the to race 1 of Kabatiella caulivora in subterranean clover (Trifolium implications of variability in the digestible protein and energy value subterraneum L.) cultivars and breeding lines. Australian Journal of of lupin kernel meals when fed to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus Agricultural Research 59, 561-566. mykiss. Aquaculture 277, 251-262. Norman, H.C., Wilmot, M.G., Thomas, D.T., Revell, D.K., Glencross, B., Hawkins, W., Evans, D., Rutherford, N., and Masters, D.G. (2008). Stable carbon isotopes accurately McCafferty, P., Dods, K., Karopoulos, M., Veitch, C., Sipsas, reveal short-term diet selection by sheep grazing mixtures of C3 S., and Buirchell, B. (2008). Variability in the composition of lupin annual pastures and saltbush or C4 perennial grasses. Livestock (Lupinus angustifolius) meals influences their digestible nutrient and Science (in press). energy value when fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Thackray, D.J., Diggle, A.J., and Jones, R.A.C. (2008). Aquaculture 277, 220-230. BYDV PREDICTOR: a simulation model to predict aphid arrival, Isenegger, D.A., Macleod, W.J., Ford, R., and Taylor, P.W.J. epidemics of Barley yellow dwarf virus and yield losses in wheat (2008). Genotypic diversity and migration of clonal lineages of crops in a Mediterranean-type environment. Plant Pathology 58, Botrytis cinerea from chickpea fields of Bangladesh inferred by 186-202. microsatellite markers. Plant pathology 57, 967-973. Turner, N.C., Schulze, E.-D., Nicolle, D., Schumacher, J., and Johansen, C., Bakr, M.A., Islam, M.S., Mondal, N.A., Afzal, Kuhlmann, I. (2008). Annual rainfall does not directly determine A., MacLeod, W.J., Pande, S., and Siddique, K.H.M. (2008). the carbon isotope ratio of leaves of Eucalyptus species. Physiologia Integrated crop management of chickpea in environments of Plantarum 132, 440-445. Bangladesh prone to Botrytis grey mould. Field Crops 108, 238-249. Wylie, S.J., Coutts, B.A., Jones, M.G.K., and Jones, R.A.C. Jones, R.A.C., Coutts, B.A., Latham, L.J., and McKirdy, (2008). Phylogenetic analysis of Bean Yellow Mosaic virus Isolates S.J. (2008). Cucumber mosaic virus infection of chickpea stands: from four continents: Relationship between the seven groups found temporal and spatial patterns of spread and yield-limiting potential. and their hosts and origins. Plant Disease 92, 1596-1603. Plant Pathology 57, 842-853.

Volume 9 No.2 December 2008 13 BEANSTALK Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Newsletter

Refereed Conference Proceedings

Adhikari, K., Thomas, G., Buirchell, B., and Sweetingham, in Lupins. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. M. (2008). Identification of Anthracnose Resistance in Yellow Lupins Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin and its Incorporation into Breeding Lines. In 12th International Lupin Association), pp. 434-438. Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Palta, J.A., Berger, J.D., and Ludwig, C. (2008). The Growth Australia: International Lupin Association), pp. 251-254. and Yield of Narrow Leafed Lupin: Myths and Realities. In 12th Berger, J.D., Ludwig, C., and Buirchell, B.J. (2008). International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds Ecogeography of the Old World Lupins: Characterising the Habitat (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Association), Range. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. pp. 20-25. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Sawicka-Sienkiewicz, E., Galek, R., Clements, J.C., and Association), pp. 355-361. Wilson, J.G. (2008). Difficulties with interspecific hybridisation in Berger, J.D., Buirchell, B.J., Palta, J.A., Luckett, D., Ludwig, the genus Lupinus. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta C., and Shrestha, R. (2008). G x E Analysis of Narrow-Leafed and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Historical Trials Indicates Little Specific Adaptation Among Lupin Association), pp. 135-142. Australian Cultivars. In 12th International Lupin Conference , J.A. Palta Si, P., Quealy, J.A., Sweetingham, M., and Buirchell, B. (2008). and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Improved Herbicide Tolerance in Narrow-Leafed Lupin (Lupinus Lupin Association), pp. 317-320. angustifolius L.) Through Utilizing Natural Variation and Induced Clements, J.C., Sweetingham, M.W., Smith, L., Francis, Mutants. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. G.W., Thomas, G., and Sipsas, S. (2008). Crop Improvement Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin in Lupinus Mutabilis for Australian Agriculture - Progress and Association), pp. 287-290. Prospects. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Wang, S., and Clements, J.C. (2008). Antioxidant Activities of Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Lupin Seeds. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and Association), pp. 244-250. J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Clements, J.C., Prilyuk, L., Quealy, J.A., and Francis, G.W. Association), pp. 546-551. (2008). Interspecific Crossing Among the New World Lupin Species Wang, S., Errington, S., and Yap, H.H. (2008). Studies for Lupinus mutabilis Crop Improvement. In 12th International Lupin on Carotenoids from Lupin Seeds. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Association), pp. 324-327. Australia: International Lupin Association), pp. 198-202. French, B. (2008). Agronomy Influences Competition Between Wilson, J.G., Clements, J.C., and Yang, H. (2008). Development Lupins and Weeds. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta of an Interspecific Hybridisation Protocol for Lupinus. In 12th and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds Lupin Association), pp. 15-19. (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Association), French, B., Fievez, P., and Harries, M. (2008). Management pp. 147-151. Options to Increase Grain Protein Content of Australian Sweet White Yang, H., and Buirchell, B. (2008). Strategies in Developing Lupin (L. angustifolius) in Western Australia. In 12th International Molecular Markers for Marker Assisted Selection in Lupin Breeding Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western in Australia. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and Australia: International Lupin Association), pp. 59-65. J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Glencross, B. (2008). Harvesting the Benefits of Lupin Meals in Association), pp. 267-270. Aquaculture Feeds. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta Zhang, H., Simpson, N., Milroy, S., Poole, M., and Turner, and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International N.C. (2008). Relationships between growing season rainfall, grain Lupin Association), pp. 496-505. yield and yield components suggest that wheat requires one ear/ Glencross, B., Hawkins, W., Burridge, P., Evans, D., m2 per millimetre of rainfall to achieve its water-limited potential. Rutherford, N., McCafferty, P., Dods, K., and Sipsas, S. (2008). In 14th Australian Agronomy Conference, M.K. Unkovich, ed (South Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) to Predict the Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy). Digestible Protein and Energy Value of Lupin Kernel Meals when Fed to Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Technical Reports Australia: International Lupin Association), pp. 108-114. Jones, R., Coutts, B., Burchell, G., and Wylie, S. (2008). Bean Neupane, R., Ashutosh, S., Shrestha, R., Yadav, N.K., Erskine, Yellow Mosaic Virus in Lupins: Strains, Losses, Epidemiology and W., and Francis, C.M. (2008). Lentil Production in Nepal. A Control. In 12th International Lupin Conference, J.A. Palta and J.B. success story of fruitful partnership between Nepal Agricultural Berger, eds (Fremantle, Western Australia: International Lupin Research Council, Nepal, the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Association), pp. 420-424. Agriculture, Australia and the International Center for Agricultural Maling, T., Diggle, A.J., Thackray, D.J., Siddique, K.H.M., Research in Dry Areas, Syria. (Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural and Jones, R.A.C. (2008). Forecasting Green-Bridge Mediated Research Institutions (APAARI)), pp. 42. Diseases in the South-West of Australia: Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus

Volume 9 No.2 December 2008 14 BEANSTALK Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Newsletter

newsletter creDits

Volume 9, Number 2 December 2008 CLIMA M080 Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences EDITOR The University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Dr Ping Si [email protected] CRAWLEY WA 6009 Assistant Editor Email: [email protected] Dr Debbie Thackray [email protected] Website: www.clima.uwa.edu.au Contributing authors: LAYOUT Dr Marie Claire Castello [email protected] Uniprint Dr Heather Clarke [email protected] Dr Jon Clements [email protected] © CLIMA 2008 Dr Janine Croser [email protected] DISCLAIMER Prof. William Erskine [email protected] While every effort has been made to ensure the Prof. Clive Francis [email protected] accuracy of the information in this newsletter, the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar [email protected] Agriculture (CLIMA) cannot accept any Adj. Prof. Harry Nesbitt [email protected] responsibility for the consequences of the use of this information. The Newsletter provides Dr Ping Si [email protected] you with a brief explanation of research and Prof. Neil Turner [email protected] other activities in progress and is a guide only.

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