Lentil varieties for low rainfall and sandy soil environments (GGG121)
START
May 1, 2021
FINISH
May 31, 2024
Summary
The project has improved the understanding of lentil growth and yield in low rainfall (LR) environments and improved breeding methodologies for these regions. Traits were identified that confer increased yield and yield stability in LR environments and germplasm developed with multiple adaptive traits. Outputs from this project will help drive continued lentil expansion in LR environments by maximising profitability and stability.
Background
The area sown to lentil in the LR zone of South Australia (SA) had increased from 20,000ha in 2021 to 171,000ha in 2024 (PIRSA Crop Harvest Report, July 2024). Improving the reliability of lentil production and further expansion relies on screening diverse germplasm, understanding which traits help lentils adapt to LR environments, in particular Mallee duplex or sandy soils, and selecting superior lines for release.
Research Aims
The core objectives of the project were to:
- Identify and understand lentil traits that confer increased yield and yield stability in LR environments of SA across variable environments, years and management strategies to guide breeding and agronomy.
- Evaluate germplasm with multiple adaptive LR traits to provide varieties that improve the reliability of lentil production in LR environments of SA.
In The Field
Lentil variety evaluation trials consisting of commercial varieties, elite breeding lines from Grains Innovation Australia (GIA), variety mixtures and comparison pulse crop species were conducted at sandy soil sites at Bute, Loxton, Pinnaroo and Koongawa/Tooligie Hill from 2021-2023. These LR trials were compared to one favourable contrasting site at Horsham, Vic.
Growing conditions experienced across 2021-23 allowed for the identification of lines with improved adaption to LR and an understanding of the traits required for improved adaptation.
Results
GIA Thunder was the highest yielding IMI tolerant variety across all LR sites with high relative yield across the favourable but high disease year of 2022 and the more typical lower rainfall years of 2021 and 2023. GIA Lightning was the second highest yielding variety and remains a good option for more favourable Mallee areas, particularly on light textured sandy soils where Botrytis grey mould (BGM) risk is low.
Lentils need a minimum resistance level of MR/MS to BGM for stable production in LR environments despite disease only infrequently limiting yield.
Lines with high vigour and biomass, including some with multiple herbicide tolerance, and lines from a Jumbo2 population with improved grain yield in LR regions were identified.
Six lines were identified with improved vigour and biomass when grown in the A and B horizon soil types characteristic of the Mallee duplex soils and were subsequently used in GIA crossing programs in 2023 and 2024.
GIA2201L, a high yielding conventional disease resistant line, was identified for potential release.
Variety mixtures of GIA Thunder/GIA Lightning or GIA Leader/PBA HallmarkXT/PBA HighlandXT did not perform better than the highest yielding variety of each mix grown individually.
Breeding populations and fixed lines with multiple adaptations to the LR environment, including dual herbicide tolerance and increased vigour were identified. Approximately 150 advanced high yielding lines were evaluated in the LR regions of SA in 2024.
Project Participants
Global Grain Genetics/Grains Innovation Australia: Dr Larn McMurray, Dr Michael Materne
The Problem
Industry needed a better understanding of traits in lentils that confer increased yield and yield stability in low rainfall environments to guide breeding and agronomy.
The research
Identify traits that improve yield and evaluate germplasm with multiple adaptive traits to improve reliability of lentil production in low rainfall environments.
More information
Dr Larn McMurray, Global Grain Genetics/Grains Innovation
Australia
T: 0466 113 848
E: [email protected]
Value for Growers
Key traits required for increased yield and yield stability in LR environments were identified, incorporated into the GIA breeding program, and a large number of lentil breeding populations with multiple adaptive traits were developed for the LR environment.
GIA Thunder and GIA Lightning were identified as the new benchmarks for lentil variety yield and adaptation in LR environments, with GIA Lightning more specifically adapted to sandy soils. Future variety releases will need to have better or equivalent yield and adaptation or improvements in disease resistance and/or other beneficial agronomic traits for the LR environment.
Yield gains of approximately two per cent per annum are expected in the LR region from the germplasm, knowledge and improved breeding methods developed by GIA in this project.
The improved understanding of lentil growth and grain yield in LR environments has been extended to LR growers, consultants and industry and will continue to drive lentil expansion by maximising lentil profitability and stability, including a shift to GIA Thunder. The work has also added value to numerous agronomic projects across SA through the sharing of advanced breeding lines with traits adapted to SA lentil growing regions. The success of this project has led to a SAGIT project targeting the development of lentils for sustainable rotations on low-rainfall highly alkaline calcareous soils.
