K.F. LOWE¹, D. GRAMSHAW², T.M. BOWDLER¹, R.L. CLEM³ and B.G. COLLYER³

¹Queensland Department of Primary Industries, P.O. Box 96, Ipswich, 4305.
²Queensland Department of Primary Industries, P.O. Box 46, Brisbane, 4001.
³Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Biloela Research Station, Biloela, 4715.

Abstract

A series of experiments was commenced in 1981 to evaluate new lucerne cultivars for yield, persistence and disease resistance in the subhumid, subtropical environment of southern Queensland. The Queensland-bred cultivars Trifecta and Sequel were more persistent than, and as productive as the best of the imported American cultivars. They combined good yielding potential with considerable resistance to both anthracnose/crown rot (Colletotrichum trifolii) and root rot (Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. medicaginis). Other superior cultivars and lines were UC 193, Granada, Maxidor 2, Matador, Pioneer 5929 and Baron, all of which had winter active or highly winter active growth characteristics, and high resistance to root rot, but lower resistance to anthracnose than Trifecta and Sequel. Yield of cultivars and lines was related to winter activity level, and to Phytophthora and Colletotrichum resistances. The implications of these results for commercial lucerne production are discussed.