Lime pelleting inoculated serradella (Ornithopus spp.) increases nodulation and yield

Lime pelleting of the inoculated seed is recommended for most pasture legume species to improve survival of the rhizobia on the seed and to counter deleterious effects of soil or fertiliser acidity on rhizobial numbers. Except for New South Wales, lime pelleting is specifically not recommended for serradella (Ornithopus spp.). Our objectives were to evaluate effects of lime pelleting on bradyrhizobial numbers on seed, and nodulation and growth of the serradella plants. Three experiments are reported at two acid-soil sites in northern New South Wales involving four cultivars of yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus) and Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) strains WSM471 (current inoculant strain) and WU425 and WSM480. Lime pelleting increased bradyrhizobial numbers on seed, 24 h after inoculation, by an average of 90%. Similarly, lime pelleting increased nodulation and shoot dry matter of the inoculated plants by an average of 57 and 28%, respectively. The three strains were similar in effects on plant growth. Relative values for shoot dry weight, averaged over sites, were 100 for WSM471 and 98 for both WU425 and WSM480. Our results confirmed previous research that lime pelleting inoculated serradella seed was not deleterious to survival of the bradyrhizobial inoculum, and showed that it could result in enhanced symbiotic activity of the inoculum in some instances. We recommend lime pelleting of serradella and that WSM471 remain the inoculant strain.     

The breeding system of Ornithopus sativus Brot. subsp. sativus

Genetic traits within Ornithopus sativus Brot. make it suitable for breeding as a forage legume in agriculture. The breeding system of O. sativus must be understood to stabilize valuable traits once developed. Hybridization between white‐flowered and pink‐flowered genotypes of O. sativus revealed the white flower colour to be inherited recessively to pink, while early flowering showed genetic dominance over late flowering (d = 0.5). The pink flower colour was always associated with red pigmentation on seedling hypocotyls, which provided a pragmatic aid in the selection process. Pollination of O. sativus is largely autogamous, but examination of hypocotyl colour of seedlings from white‐flowered trap plants placed among pink‐flowered plants in a sward indicated a xenogamic cross‐pollination rate of 25% is possible. This significant level of cross‐pollination revealed opportunities for breeding desirable traits within the species, while providing a warning that shifts in population structure could occur in response to selection pressure.     

Forderung der biologischen luftstickstoffbindung bei lupinen und serradella,ein beitrag für die ressourcensparende pflanzenernährung

Durch Saatgutinokulation mit selektierten leistungsfähigen Bradyrhizobium‐Bakterien wurde der Sproßtrockenmasse‐und Samenertrag von Lupinen und Serradella in Feld‐ und Großversuchen auf unterschiedlichen Standorten (lehmigem Sand und sandigem Lehm) ohne zusätzlichen Düngereinsatz in mehreren Jahren wiederholt erhöht. Die Inokulation war bei unterschiedlichen Sorten von gelben, weißen und blauen Lupinen und bei Leguminosengemenge in Frühjahrs‐und Sommeraussaaten wirksam. Sie wirkte sich auch positiv auf die Wurzelentwicklung aus.