Summary

The outcome of this research will be a dramatic expansion of the use of sulla in mixed farming systems of southern Australia, enabled through substantially lower seed costs. Sulla is one of the few perennial legumes with commercial value for farmers, is ideally suited to phase pasture systems and will provide new opportunities for forage conservation. Additionally, we expect to develop and capture a highly lucrative export seed market based on a soft-seeded sulla. Furthermore, this project will provide greater understanding of the genetics of soft-seededness in sulla and this knowledge could be transferable to other species.

Program

Pasture Seeds

Research Organisation

Western Australian Agriculture Authority, a body corporate established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

Objective Summary

This project has two key objectives: 1. Confirm genetic stability and validate field performance of the soft-seeded sulla (Hedsarum coronarium) selections identified in RIRDC UWA-65A. 2. Commercialise an elite soft-seeded genotype of sulla for domestic and export forage/seed markets.