Plant Collection in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan for Forage Improvement in Australia

Abstract

Plant germplasm, totalling 1,344 accessions, was collected during the course of two Australian led seed collection missions in Kazakhstan in 2002 and Azerbaijan in 2004. The collection in Kazakhstan involved members from Australia, China, the Vavilov Institute in Russia and the Aral Sea Experiment Station in Kazakhstan while the mission to Azerbaijan involved scientists from Australia, ICARDA and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Samples collected covered 54 genera and 144 species. A sub-sample of seed of 1,170 of these accessions was brought to Australia and indexed into the South Australian Genetic Resource Centre collection. Perennial pasture legumes were targeted on both missions and 725 samples were collected. Wild ecotypes of lucerne, particularly Medicago sativa subsp. caerulea and subsp. falcata, with associated rhizobia, were collected at 100 sites across the two countries from the mountains to the deserts. Soils ranged from clays to sands with pH from 5.8 to 9.5. The incidence of lucerne decreased at acidic sites as expected. The perennial clover, Trifolium tumens, was collected at 36 sites, in Azerbaijan only, quadrupling previous ex-situ conservation of this species. The range of adaptation and frequency was far greater than expected and increased drought and grazing tolerance is expected above that in current germplasm holdings. A total of 180 grass accessions, predominantly perennials, were collected, including Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne. Wild cereal relatives collected included ancient and wild wheat (Aegilops and Triticum) and barley (Hordeum) while herb, pulse and oil seed crops included Cichorium, Brassica and Vicia. SARDI has since conducted characterisation, preliminary evaluation and seed multiplication activities on 617 of the accessions including the perennial Medicago accessions while TIAR has characterised a further 35 T. tumens accessions. Based on the information collected, selected wild lucernes are now in field trials across southern Australia to identify drought tolerant perennials while a T. tumens cultivar is being commercialised now in Tasmania based on the accessions collected. In all over 1000 seed samples from 500 of the accessions have been distributed to scientists in Australia and six other countries.