Better frost tolerant varieties for NSW
Project Title: Better frost tolerant varieties for NSW
Group name: NSW Farming Systems Group Inc
Objectives:
Frost damage affects one third of the NSW cane growing area, reduces production by 10-30% costing the industry $2.5 million about 1 in 3 years. Severe frosting in 2007 (-6.3°C) caused major losses and a resultant 17% decline in the 2008 crop.
- This project aims to trial artificial freeze testing of varieties in the advanced stages of selection to determine the degree of natural resistance to cold temperatures. Field tests of promising varieties on group members' farms in frost prone areas would follow.
- This project aligns with the 2008 GGIP priority for projects that evaluate the suitability and performance of new varieties in specific areas not covered by existing cane breeding and selection programs
- Farming system group members will benefit by being involved in variety selection and testing of promising varieties on their own farms.
Project Activities:
- Develop a range of protocols for freeze testing using varieties with a range of frost tolerance, for example Esk, Q205A & Q193A are known to be frost prone, Q203A and BN81-1394 exhibit good frost tolerance
- Propagate as one eye setts the varieties from BSES final stage selection trials (AAT's) and commercial varieties with a range of frost tolerance for comparison
- Subject these varieties to an artificial freeze test in a cold room at varying damaging frost temperatures and durations
- Assess variety in reaction to frost and identify varieties with potential frost resistance
- Propagate these varieties and assess performance on group farms under differing environments.
- Conduct regular group meetings and farm walks
Contact Person: Alan Munro 0427 476491