Western Australia
October 18, 2006
 Source:
The Crop Doctor, GRDC
Results from Grains Research
and Development Corporation (GRDC) supported research to
find more herbicide tolerant pulse varieties is providing cause
for optimism in the fight against increased chemical resistance.
In its lupin and chickpea germplasm screening project, the
Centre for Legumes
in Mediterranean Agriculture
(CLIMA) has found the agrochemical Affinity
(carfentrazone-ethyl) had potential to be used for selective
control of wild radish in lupins and chickpeas.
The Queensland based producers of the chemical have also shown
interest in the work, which could auger well for getting the
herbicide registered for use in lupins and chickpeas once
tolerant cultivars are developed and released.
Wild radish is one of WA’s dominant herbicide resistant weeds
and while not yet widespread in WA, numbers are increasing. A
registered selective herbicide capable of knocking out the
tenacious weed would prove invaluable to growers.
Affinity is a relatively new herbicide registered for use
post-emergence when it is mixed with MCPA to control wild radish
and other broad leafed weeds in cereals.
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CLIMA scientist Dr Ping Si explains to a
group of
eastern wheatbelt farmers visiting UWA
how and why some herbicides affect certain pulses. |
University of Western Australia-based CLIMA researcher, Dr Ping
Si said Affinity acted fast with leaf damage to weeds visible
within one week of application and wild radish completely
scorched at the recommended rate of use.
But there was large variation in lupin and chickpea responses,
with some genotypes showing limited foliage damage, while
others, at recommended rates, were completely scorched.
Dr Si said tolerant genotypes recovered from foliage damage and
grew into normal plants without any symptoms, even at above
recommended rates.
The next stage is to develop cultivars that are damaged only
minimally at any growth rate when Affinity is applied. Mutation
breeding has already started in lupin and chickpeas to identify
good tolerance to Affinity.
Field peas, lentils and faba beans are also included in the GRDC
supported project conducted by CLIMA in collaboration with the
Department of Agriculture and Food, the WA Herbicide Resistance
Initiative and the National Pulse Program.
The Crop Doctor is GRDC Managing Director, Peter
Reading |
