Lupin growers get new help

Lupin growers in the Great Southern and along the south coast have the potential to increase yields by using new varieties, according to Department of Agriculture and Food development officer Greg Shea.

Mr Shea spoke to farmers at the Great Southern Research Institute’s field day recently in Katanning.

Many growers across the region are favouring Mandelup, which suffers from late infection by bean yellow mosaic virus that causes pods on some plants to turn brown or black prematurely and poor seed development, resulting in low, variable yields.

“Jenabillup has got very good resistance against bean yellow mosaic virus, also known as black pod syndrome, ” Mr Shea said.

“And because many growers haven’t got Jenabillup there is a big potential for the area to use the right technology and it’s a cheap way of getting the yield increase associated with stopping late infection with BYMV.”

Jenabillup was released in 2007 and is a mid-maturing variety with the best tolerance to late infection BYMV and brown leaf spot.

The next variety, WALAN2333, which is being trialled in Katanning as part of the national lupin breeding program, is also showing promise.

Mr Shea said it had the added benefit of being tolerant to metribuzin and did not shed like other varieties.

“It’s got the best traits of Mandellup and the best of Jeanbillup, but isn’t quite as good for BYMC resistance, ” he said. “But it’s still very good for this area.”