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

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.

Strengthening the impact of plant genetic resources through collaborative collection, conservation, characterisation, and evaluation: a tribute to the legacy of Dr Clive Francis

“…These international linkages, established in the late 1990s, led to further collaboration in the Mediterranean basin (funded by GRDC), Caucasus and Central Asia (funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)) until 2006 and 2011, respectively ( Table 2). The Mediterranean collections included annual pasture legumes from short season and low latitude regions in the Canary Islands, Morocco, south-east Spain, Israel (Snowball et al 2008), Eritrea (Snowball et al 2012), Turkey, Greece and the Cyclades islands (Folegandros, Sikinos, Ios, Naxos and Milos); Melilotus siculus and other salt tolerant species from Andalusia and Valencia (Nichols et al 2010). Subsequently perennial pasture legumes were also targeted, including Lotus from Cape Verde, Canary Islands and Azores (Sandral et al 2006); and drought tolerant Bituminaria bituminosa var.…”