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A range of cool season grain legume species have shown considerable potential for soils unsuitable for the production of narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) at limited sites in the Mediterranean-type environments of south-western Australia. In this study the adaptation of these grain legume species was compared by measuring crop phenology, growth, and yield in field experiments at a total of 36 sites over 3 seasons, with the aim of identifying species with suitable adaptation and seed yield for specific environments. The grain legumes examined appeared to fall into 3 categories: (i) field pea (Pisum sativum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and narbon bean (Vicia narbonensis L.) clearly had superior seed yield to the other species over a wide number of sites and years across south-western Australia (mean 1.0–2.3 t/ha); (ii) albus lupin (Lupinus albus L.), desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and Lathyrus cicera, L. sativus, and L. ochrus produced seed yields of 1–1.3 t/ha; and (iii) red lentil (Lens culinaris L.), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), and kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) generally produced the lowest yields (0.6–1.0 t/ha). There were clear species × environment interactions. At low-yielding sites (<1.4 t/ha), field pea was the highest yielding species, while faba bean often produced the highest seed yields under more favourable conditions at high yielding sites. Lentil, bitter vetch, Lathyrus spp., and desi chickpea showed average response to increasing mean site yield. Soil pH and clay content and rainfall were the environmental factors identified as the most important in determining seed yields. Soil pH and clay content appeared to be especially important in the adaptation of lentil, narbon bean, bitter vetch, and kabuli chickpea, with these species performing best in soils with pH >6.0 and clay contents >15%. Seed yields were positively correlated with dry matter production at maturity across a number of sites (r2 = 0.40, P < 0.01). Future improvements in seed yield of these species are likely to come from management practices that increase dry matter production such as increased plant density and early sowing, and through the development of genotypes with greater tolerance to low winter temperatures, and more rapid phenology, canopy development, and dry matter production than existing commercial cultivars.

Transient waterlogging reduces the yield of cool-season grain legumes in several parts of the world. The tolerance of grain legumes to waterlogging may vary between and within species. This study investigated the effects of 7 days of waterlogging and subsequent recovery (10 days) on plant growth to evaluate the variation in tolerance among 7 cool-season grain legume species, in sand culture in glasshouse experiments. Additionally waterlogging tolerance of 6 faba bean genotypes was also evaluated. Tolerance to waterlogging as indicated by root and shoot growth (as % of drained controls) was ranked as follows: faba bean > yellow lupin > grass pea > narrow-leafed lupin > chickpea > lentil > field pea. Faba bean produced adventitious roots and aerenchyma leading to increased root porosity (9% gas volume per unit root volume). Among the 6 faba bean genotypes screened, accession 794 showed the best waterlogging tolerance, but it was also the slowest growing accession, which might have contributed to apparent tolerance (i.e. growth as % drained control). It is concluded that waterlogging tolerance in grain legumes varied between and within species, with faba bean being the most tolerant. The variation in tolerance identified within the limited set of faba bean genotypes evaluated suggests scope for further genetic improvement of tolerance in this species.

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The growth, phenology, grain yield and neurotoxin (ODAP) content of Lathyrus sativus, L. cicera and L. ochrus were compared with a locally adapted field pea (Pisum sativum L.) to examine their potential as grain legumes in Western Australian farming systems. About 17 lines of each species were obtained from ICARDA, Syria, and grown at 3 agro-climatically different sites. In general, the 3 species were later flowering than field pea, especially L. cicera and L. ochrus; however, L. sativus was the last species to mature. The best Lathyrus lines produced biomass near flowering similar to field pea. At the most favourable site, grain yields were up to 1.6, 2.6 and 1.7 t/ha for L. sativus, L. cicera and L. ochrus respectively, compared with a field pea grain yield of 3.1 t/ha. There was considerable genotype and environmental variation in ODAP concentration in the seed. On average, the ODAP concentration of L. ochrus (6.58 mg/g) was about twice that of L. sativus, and L. cicera had the lowest ODAP concentration (1.31 mg/g). Given that Lathyrus spp. have not had the same breeding effort as field pea and other grain legumes in Australia, these results encourage further selection or breeding. In the shor-tseasoned, mediterranean-type environment of Western Australia, harvest indices and grain yields could be improved with early flowering. Low ODAP concentration should also be sought.