SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER VARIETIES TO RUST UNDER CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AND FIELD CONDITIONS

Thirty-two subterranean clover varieties, comprising 17 commercial cultivars, 1 named variety and 14 promising midseason breeding and introduced lines, were screened for resistance to rust (caused by Uromyces trifolii-repentis) under controlled environment conditions, and where possible, comparisons were made with their performance in field plots. There were large differences between varieties in the incidence and severity of rust on plants. Under controlled environment conditions, cvv. Gingin, Meteora and Enfield, and to a lesser extent Larisa and Trikkala, had the lowest levels of rust leaf infection, the lowest rust pustule densities and the smallest rust pustules. Seaton Park had a relatively low pustule density and CPI 89830F had relatively small pustules. Gingin and Enfield had the least leaf collapse. Green Range was the most susceptible under controlled environment conditions, followed by Bacchus Marsh, Karridale, CPI 47308C and CPI 89841E. Under field conditions, Enfield, Meteora, Trikkala and CPI 89822H were rust free, while Larisa, CPI 47308C, CPI 65328F, 75S13-12, 76S41-1, CPI 89830F and CPI 89880J had good resistance. Green Range was clearly the most susceptible under field conditions, followed by Seaton Park, Karridale, Bacchus Marsh, CPI 89774F and CPI 89841E. While there was often good correlation between the field and controlled environment data for the different parameters, the resistance rankings of some varieties varied widely, depending upon whether screened under controlled environment or field conditions. Green Range, Karridale, Seaton Park and CPI 89841E were highly susceptible to rust under both controlled and field conditions, indicating that either environment could be successfully used to identify highly susceptible varieties. The high degree of resistance observed in Enfield, Gingin and Meteora, and to a lesser extent in Larisa and Trikkala, suggests their value as parents in breeding programs for rust resistance.