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

Thirty-three subterranean clover varieties, comprising 16 commercial cultivars and 17 promising midseason breeding and introduced lines, were screened for resistance to powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe polygonii) 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 powdery mildew on plants. Under controlled environment conditions, Tallarook, CPI 47308C, CPI 89860D, 75S13-12, CPI 65328A, CPI 89820D and Clare had the lowest levels of leaf infection, the lowest mildew sporulation scores and the least amount of leaf scorching from mildew infection. Karridale had the highest level of leaf infection, followed by 69S37-1, 76S41-1, Junee, Bacchus Marsh and 69S37-3. Under field conditions, Tallarook, CPI 47308C, CPI 65328A and CPI 65328F were mildew-free, while CPI 89777C, CPI 89860D, CPI 89830F, CPI 89841E, Clare and Rosedale had good resistance. Junee was clearly the most susceptible under field conditions, followed by 76S41-1, 69S37-3, Karridale, Bacchus Marsh and 69S37-1. There was generally excellent correlation between the different powdery mildew disease parameters, namely leaf infection, mildew sporulation and leaf scorch, measured under controlled environment conditions, and there was also good overall correlation between controlled environment and field data. Bacchus Marsh, Junee, 69S37-1, 69S37-3 and 76S41-1 were highly susceptible under both controlled environment and field conditions, indicating that either environment could be used to identify highly susceptible varieties. Under controlled environment conditions, a high degree of resistance was observed in Clare, CPI 47308C, CPI 65328A, CPI 89820D, CPI 89860D and 75S13-12, while field plots of the varieties Tallarook, CPI 47308C and CPI 65328A showed a complete absence of powdery mildew. These varieties may have value as parents in breeding programs for powdery mildew resistance.