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Exploring the wider potential of forage legumes collected from the highlands of Eritrea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Richard Snowball ,
Amanuel Mahdere ,
Eskender Tesfay ,
Mehreteab Aberra ,
Regina M. Carr  and
Mario F. D' Antuono
Richard Snowball*
Affiliation:
DAFWA, Grains Industry Division, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA6151, Australia CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA6009, Australia Future Farm Industries CRC, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA6009, Australia
Amanuel Mahdere
Affiliation:
Hal Hale Research Centre, National Agricultural Research Institute, Eritrea
Eskender Tesfay
Affiliation:
Hal Hale Research Centre, National Agricultural Research Institute, Eritrea
Mehreteab Aberra
Affiliation:
DAFWA, Grains Industry Division, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA6151, Australia
Regina M. Carr
Affiliation:
Centre for Rhizobium Studies, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch6150, Australia
Mario F. D' Antuono
Affiliation:
DAFWA, Grains Industry Division, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA6151, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This is the first report of a pasture plant collecting mission to the highlands of Eritrea and a preliminary examination of the potential of species for both Eritrea and southern Australia. In 2004, seeds from 53 legume species were collected from 58 locations in the southern highlands between Keren, Adi Quala and Senafe. Strains of Rhizobium from 18 species were also collected. Seed collections of 11 species with Rhizobium were established in germplasm nurseries at the Medina Research Station, Western Australia between 2005 and 2010. Observations on their growth, flowering and seed production were recorded. Based on a climate match analysis and observations from germplasm nurseries, it was suggested that species with most promise for parts of southern Australia include the annual legume Biserrula pelecinus ssp. leiocarpa and the perennial shrub Colutea abyssinica. The greatest potential, however, is reserved for the highlands of Eritrea where germplasm is well adapted. Species found low in the landscape including from the genera Lotus, Trifolium and Medicago appeared well utilized. Different species found higher in the landscape including from the genera Indigofera, Tephrosia, Crotalaria, Trifolium schimperi, B. pelecinus ssp. leiocarpa and C. abyssinica were much less common, appeared under-utilized and may be under threat from genetic erosion. Animal production on the non-arable dry hillsides of the highlands would benefit from better utilization of these species through replanting some areas, careful grazing management and demonstration of the benefits of increasing the native legume component of these wild pastures.

Keywords

climate matchEritrean highlandsgermplasm nurserypasture legumeRhizobium collectionseed collection
Type
Research Article
Information
Plant Genetic Resources , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , August 2013 , pp. 158 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © NIAB 2013 

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