Amira: an anthracnose resistant albus lupin for Western Australia

Key features

• Anthracnose resistant albus lupin variety for Western Australia.
• Mid flowering, similar to Kiev Mutant and earlier than Andromeda.
• Matures about a week later than Kiev Mutant.
• Greater than 20% higher yielding than Andromeda.
• Moderately resistant (MR) to anthracnose, significantly better than Andromeda.
• Similar grain size and quality to Andromeda and Kiev Mutant.
• May require fungicide protection in high rainfall areas with high risk of anthracnose infection.

Breeding

Amira (tested as WALAB2014) was bred by Dr Kedar Adhikari at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in partnership with the Council of Grain Grower Organisations Limited. It was derived from a cross between Kiev Mutant and a WA bred anthracnose resistant line 98B001-5-6. It has the good agronomic traits of Kiev Mutant and the anthracnose resistance of the other parent.

Agronomic characteristics and disease resistance

Amira is an early flowering and medium height variety with significantly higher yield and anthracnose resistance than Andromeda.

MR = moderately resistant, MS = moderately susceptible, S = susceptible

Area of adaptation

Amira is relatively early flowering and produces high yield in similar areas to where Kiev Mutant was popular before the outbreak of anthracnose. Amira is best suited to the medium rainfall areas of the northern wheatbelt of WA where anthracnose pressure is not high. Its level of anthracnose resistance is not high enough for the wetter coastal locations, such as the Chapman Valley and New South Wales without fungicide protection.

Yield

Amira has consistently yielded higher than Andromeda in the northern agriculture region of WA and is suggested as a replacement for Andromeda.

Management

Paddock selection

Amira is well suited to the fertile loams or clay loams that occur in valley throughout the state and the red soils of the Mingenew, Mullewa and Morawa regions. It will not grow well in infertile sands or duplex soils. Amira is adapted to soils of slightly high pH than is narrow-leafed lupin, but will not grow well on loams and clays with a pH above 7.5 if these soils become saturated with water.

Avoid, where possible, blue lupin infestations (fencelines, paddock populations) which harbour anthracnose.

Seed treatment

Dress seed with a thiram based product to limit transmission of seed borne anthracnose infection and with iprodione or procymidone based products to help control seedling brown spot. If the paddock has not been cropped to lupins (any lupin species because they all utilise the same rhizobium species) in the past three years then also inoculate seed with Group G rhyzobium.

Use granular inoculum rather than peat inoculum because the fungicide seed dressing will kill the rhizobia that are spread on the the seed. If using peat inoculum that is spread on the seed then minimise the time the inoculant is in contact with the fungicide. Apply the fungicide first, ensure that it is completely dry, and then apply the inoculant. The seed must be sown into moist soil within six hours. If more than six hours passes, apply a fresh batch of inoculum.

Sowing

• Target the sowing date used for albus lupins in your region. Gains in yield and grain quality can be made from timely sowing.
• Sowing depth: aim for 3-5cm. Take care not to sow too deep because emergence of seedlings declines sharply with deeper sowing, particularly on soils that form a crust.
• Sowing rate: 40-45 plants per square metre (plants/m²) is optimum, which corresponds to a sowing rate of 150 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) subject to seed size and germination test.
• Use coarse metering wheels on air seeders, if available to avoid cracking seed. An agitator in the seed box will also help seeds flow smoothly. Albus lupin seeds are flat and squarish and tend to pack down and flow poorly if not agitated.

Herbicide sensitivity

Herbicide tolerance trials in Western Australia (red clay loam and red sandy loam soils) sow that Amira has good tolerance to herbicides commonly used in albus lupin production. Its metribuzin tolerance is similar to that of Andromeda and Kiev Mutant. It has low tolerance to mixtures of lexone or simazine with Brodal, except where lexone is used in conjunction with Brodal. Severe seasonal effects on herbicide activity can occur.

Disease management

Despite its improved level of anthracnose resistance, Amira growers will need to implement a clean seed strategy. To minimise yield losses to anthracnose follow local best management guidelines for your region.

See disease management guides on the Pulse Australia website.

Although Amira has significantly higher resistance to anthracnose than Andromeda, the anthracnose management practices should be similar.

• Always use anthracnose free seed.
• Apply a thiram based seed dressing to minimise transmission of seed-borne infection.
• Where possible, isolate crops from infected blue lupins.
• Where disease pressure is high and infection is present in crops, application of a registered foliar fungicide can limit yield loss.
• A foliar fungicide applied to infected crops at early podding, prior to rain, protects pods, reduces seed infection and improves production of high quality grain. Anthracnose infection on pods can result in pod abortion, yield loss and poor seed quality due to grain discolouration in severe situations.

Insect control

Establishment pests such as redlegged earth mite and lucerne flea should be monitored and controlled as necessary. Amira is tolerant to aphids in WA conditions, but it will be affected by native budworm (Helicoverpa sp.). Native budworm is potentially the most serious seed insect pest of Amira. Monitor for native budworm during podding. Spray thresholds have not yet been developed for Amira, but as a rule of thumb spray insecticide if there is more than one budworm per 10 sweeps. The timing of insecticide sprays is critical for protecting yield. Do not wait for the caterpillars to grow.

Harvest

Commence harvest when the pods turn yellow and the seed moisture is about 14%. Do not delay harvest even though pods are unlikely to shatter or shed. This will ensure seeds remain undamaged and are of high quality.

Use wide wire concaves or remove alternate wires of a cereal concave because the seeds are large. Start with the closest concave clearance and the slowest drum speed. Increase concave clearance if seed is being cracked. Increase drum speed if seed is left in the pods. Remember also to handle seed carefully after harvest to avoid damage.

Suggested harvester settings:

• Reel speed: 1.0 x ground speed
• Table auger: 10-20 millimetres (mm)
• Drum or rotor speed: 300-500 rpm
• Concave clearance: 15-20mm (start at 15mm)
• Fan speed: 75-100% (start at 100%)
• Top sieve: 25-32mm (start at 32mm)
• Bottom sieve: 12-16mm (start at 16mm).

Seed quality

Amira has large white seed similar to Kiev Mutant and will be accepted in human consumption markets. Its seed alkaloid content is lower than Andromeda and protein content is similar to Kiev Mutant and Andromeda.

Seed availability

Amira is commercialised through Heritage Seeds.

Seed supply enquiries

• Australian Seed and Grain
• EDSCO Eastern Districts Seed Cleaning Co
• MultiSEED Productions