Investment

The aim of the National Vetch Breeding Program (NVBP) is to provide Australian farmers with a range of varieties for both common and woolly pod vetch, to enable choice of varieties according to the rotational requirements of a given season or system. More profitable and sustainable mixed farming and cropping industries will be strengthened by higher yielding, stable and robust vetch varieties which can provide nitrogen to the soil, an opportunity to control herbicide resistant grass weeds and a disease break for cereal crops in addition to high quality grain and fodder.

Improved genetically diverse vetch germplasm is being developed with improvements in the following traits:

• yield stability across seasonal conditions;
• tolerance to abiotic stresses, including low pH soils, drought, salinity, frost and high temperatures during the reproductive phase of plant development;
• disease resistance/ tolerance;
• seed softness (for woolly pod vetch);
• improved early growth and vigour;
• diversity of maturity timing.

The productivity and profitability of Australian farms will be increased through the delivery of new more easily managed vetch varieties with improved yields (3-5%) of both grain and hay, with yield stability and good grain and hay quality across different environments. This is particulaly important for low rainfall marginal mixed farming areas which currently have no reliable legume options in their rotations. Breeding vetch varieties for these areas is a priority for the breeding program. The varieties bred in this project will have the traits necessary to deliver improved vetch crops with the potential to expand vetch production into areas where vetch has not been traditionally grown.