Plant Variety Journal - IP Australia

Details of Application
Application Number 2006/033
Variety Name ‘Kuratas’
Genus Species Trifolium ambiguum
Common Name Caucasian Clover
Synonym Nil
Accepted Date 7 Apr 2006
Applicant University of Tasmania and The Crown in Right of the State
of Tasmania through the Department of Primary Industries,
Water and Environment, King Meadows, TAS
Agent N/A
Qualified Person Andrea Hurst
Details of Comparative Trial
Location Mt Pleasant Laboratories, Launceston, TAS.
Descriptor Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum) PBR CAUC.
Period Apr 2006 to Mar 2008.
Conditions Seed was germinated on pads 07 Apr 2006 and pricked into
64 cell Yates Rite-Gro Kwik trays and grown in glasshouse
conditions under natural light. After 90 days the seedlings
were transplanted into 200mm pots in a pine bark/loam based
potting mix with premixed slow release fertiliser and
transferred to an outside trial site under overhead irrigation.
Plants were given soluble fertiliser as required. No fungicides
were used during the trial period. Snail bait was applied at
regular intervals and RLEM was controlled with Astound in
the first year of the trial. Weeds were controlled by hand.
Trial Design Randomised block, 5 treatments, 8 replicates, 12 plants per
plot.
Measurements Ninety-six plants of each variety were grown and measured.
RHS Chart - edition N/A.
Origin and Breeding
5 cycles of recurrent phenotypic selection for vigour, anthocyanin leaf marking,
winter activity and a strong leaf crescent and 7 cycles of natural selection in the field.
Cross-pollination of selections occurred in isolation. ‘Kuratas’ was developed from
breeding line ‘Townsend’ donated by Dr. C E Townsend through the USDA North
East Regional Plant Introduction Station, Geneva, New York, USA June 1986. Held
by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Mt. Pleasant
Laboratories, Launceston, TAS as accession Tas 389. In 1993 60 plants were selected
for seedling vigour and grown in field plots at Mt. Pleasant Laboratories, Launceston.
In 1997 after 4 years of natural selection in the field, seed was harvested from
surviving plants. In 1998 3500 plants were established at University of Tasmania
Research Farm, Cambridge in perennial legume trial plots. In 2001 after 3 years of
natural selection in the field, 20 of the surviving plants were selected from Cambridge
trial for survival, vigour and anthocyanin leaf marking and transplanted into pots and
grown in isolation at Mt. Pleasant Laboratories. In 2002 3 plants were selected having
gone through the following selection process: 20 plants were selected for strong leaf
crescent and re-selected for anthocyanin pigmentation. Those plants that did not show
resistance to mildew were removed and from those that remained 3 plants were
selected for winter activity. The plants were inter-pollinated in isolation at Mt Pleasant
Laboratories. In 2003 the 4th phenotypic selection was carried out with 320 seedlings
Page 178 of 550
Plant Varieties Journal Vol. 21 No.3