Abstract
pleted, followed by 2 cycles of progeny testing and se-lection for self-compatibility to achieve stability and uni-formity (2009−2012). Forty elite psyllid-resistant lines were then evaluated to identify the most suitable lines for release to industry. This paper describes the results of these trials.
Highlights
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) pastures for beef cattle production are productive and sustainable; susceptibility to the psyllid insect (Heteropsylla cubana) has limited expansion of current commercial cultivars into more humid areas (>800 mm/yr) (Shelton and Dalzell 2007)
All elite lines tested were superior to the commercial cultivar controls in psyllid damage rating (PDR), but had higher variability (Figure 1)
The median PDR was 2.8 for the elite lines compared with ~7.8 for controls
Summary
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) pastures for beef cattle production are productive and sustainable; susceptibility to the psyllid insect (Heteropsylla cubana) has limited expansion of current commercial cultivars into more humid areas (>800 mm/yr) (Shelton and Dalzell 2007). The psyllid, which arrived in Australia in 1986, is a leaf-sucking insect specific to the Leucaena genus, feeding on the growing tips of susceptible cultivars (Bray 1994). Psyllid damage can reduce production by as much as 50−70% in humid regions and 20−50% in subhumid environments (Bray 1994; Mullen and Shelton 2003). A breeding program to develop psyllid-resistant varieties began in 2002 at The University of Queensland (UQ) based on the F1 inter-specific hybrids between L. leucocephala and L. pallida (known as ‘KX2’), developed at the University of Hawaii (Brewbaker 2008). Two cycles of backcrossing to elite L. leuco-cephala ssp. glabrata material were com-
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
