B. F. Mullen

Agronomic evaluation of Leucaena. Part 1. Adaptation to environmental challenges in multi-environment trials

A multi-environment trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of high yielding accessions from most taxa of Leucaena, for broad and specific adaptation to growth-limiting environments, and to develop an understanding of environmental parameters limiting growth of this important multipurpose tropical tree-legume genus. Eighteen sites were selected to include environments known to constrain the growth of L. leucocephala. Accessions were planted in replicated line plots, with 10 trees/plot, spaced 50 cm apart, and with rows spaced 3 m apart. Environmental parameters measured were maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall and psyllid pressure. Soil fertility and acidity indices were derived from soil analyses. A KX2 F1 hybrid accession proved broadly adapted with high yield rankings in all environments, and with yield advantage greatest at low temperature and high psyllid pressure sites. Specific adaptation to low temperature environments was identified in L. trichandra OFI53/88, and to a lesser extent in L. pallida CQ3439. No accessions were specifically adapted to acid-infertile soils. Highest dry matter production was achieved in fertile, hot, humid, low psyllid environments. Very low growth rates were achieved in acid-infertile and low temperature environments. Yield was strongly reduced by mean monthly minimum temperatures of 22 °C, mean monthly maximum temperatures of 29 °C, psyllid pressure of >2.5 (1–9 scale of increasing pressure based on damage to young leaves), acidity index of 6 (1–7 scale of decreasing acidity based on soil and Al saturation) and fertility index of 9 (1–12 scale of increasing fertility based on critical soil nutrient levels).

Psyllid resistance in Leucaena. Part 2. Quantification of production losses from psyllid damage

The psyllid insect (Heteropsylla cubana) is known to reduce biomass production in Leucaena species, but little information is available on the level of reduction, or whether a commonly used plant damage rating scale can be related to production losses. Biomass production losses due to predation by the psyllid were determined for 12accessions of Leucaena in a randomised split-plot field experiment conducted at Brisbane, Australia. Regrowthfrom well-established Leucaena trees, cut back to bare stems 50 cm high, was measured over a 9–week period from plants subjected to psyllid damage and from plants with psyllids controlled by spraying with chlorpyrifos (1 mg ai/l water). Psyllid damage was scored using a ratings scale developed by the University of Hawaii. Lossof potential DM production due to psyllids ranged from 10% for L. trichandra OFI53/88 to 76% for L. collinsii ssp. zacapana OFI56/88. Production losses were significantly correlated with psyllid damage ratings for 10 of the 12 accessions, and also for a combined data set comprising these 10 accessions. From correlations for the combined data set, a 50% loss of potential DM production occurred at a psyllid damage rating of approximately3.2. Results indicated that a “0” rating should be added to the scale to indicate the absence of psyllids.

Agronomic evaluation of Leucaena. Part 2. Productivity of the genus for forage production in subtropical Australia and humid-tropical Philippines

Leucaena leucocephala is an important agroforestry species pan-tropically, but relatively little is known of the forage production potential of other species in the genus. The agronomic potential of 116 accessions, represent ing the 28 species and subspecies of the Leucaena genus and several artificial hybrid accessions, was evaluated at Los Baños, Philippines and Brisbane, Australia over a 2.5–year period. Accessions were planted into replicated line plots, with 10 trees/plot spaced 50 cm apart, and with rows spaced 3 m apart. The L. pallida × L. leuco cephala KX2 F 1 hybrid accessions were highest yielding at both sites, producing dry matter (DM) yields of over 900 g/m row/month at Los Baños and approximately 320 g/m row/month at Brisbane. In the near-optimal growth conditions at Los Baños, L. leucocephala accessions were highly productive, with the best accessions producing total yields of over 500 g/m row/month. The superiority of KX2 hybrids was most pronounced at Brisbane, where high psyllid pressure during summer, and low temperatures during winter severely constrained growth of L. leu cocephala accessions. In the Brisbane environment, psyllid resistant accessions of L. pallida , L. trichandra and L. diversifolia were more productive than L. leucocephala accessions. Leucaena greggii , L. retusa , L. cuspidata , L. confertiflora , L. pulverulenta , L. pueblana and L. involucrata were of inherently low productivity in both the Brisbane and Los Baños environments. Mortality over the experimental period was very low for most species, particularly for L. leucocephala and KX2 accessions. The KX2 F1 hybrid accessions have considerable agro nomic potential as alternatives to L. leucocephala for use in tropical agroforestry.

Wood and biomass production of Leucaena in subtropical Australia

Although only Leucaena leucocephala is widely used, most members of the Leucaena genus have potential as multipurpose species for tropical agroforestry systems. To investigate the wood and biomass production potential of the Leucaena genus, 116 accessions covering the 22 species were evaluated over a two-year period at Brisbane, southeast Queensland, Australia. Trees were planted into replicated line plots 5 m long, with rows spaced 3 m apart. Trees were initially planted at 0.5 m spacings within the plots, but were thinned to 1 m spacings prior to the evaluation period. The hybrid accessions, KX2 (L. pallida × L. leucocephala) and KX3 (L. diversifolia × L. leucocephala), were the most productive, yielding over 50 kg dry matter (DM)/tree. L. trichandra OFI53/88 and L. diversifolia CPI33820 were the most productive non-hybrid accessions producing total yields of 41 and 37 kg DM/tree, respectively. Cultivar Tarramba (26 kg DM/tree) was the most productive of the 26 L. leucocephala accessions assessed in the trial but all these accessions suffered from psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana) attack at this site. A series of non-destructive growth measurements was recorded every three months over the two-year evaluation period. Root collar diameter (RCD), stem number and plant height were found to be the most useful of the measurements for non-destructive assessment of accession agronomic characteristics. A relationship between yield and a growth index (calculated as RCD2 × Height/1000), was derived from data from all accessions and could be used as a reliable predictor of yield (r2 = 0.94). The widespread use of the F1 hybrid leucaenas is currently limited by a lack of seed. Technologies to economically produce F1 hybrid seed on a commercial scale are required before the potential of these accessions in agroforestry systems can be fully realized.

Psyllid resistance in Leucaena. Part 1. Genetic resistance in subtropical Australia and humid-tropical Philippines

One hundred and sixteen accessions of Leucaena were assessed for resistance to the leucaena psyllid that has devastated stands of L. leucocephala pan-tropically since the mid-1980s. Damage to young leaf was assessed using a ratings scale, developed at the University of Hawaii, in replicated field trials at Brisbane, Australia and Los Baños, Philippines. The study identified a continuum of resistance among the accessions, from highly resistant to highly susceptible. Resistance levels were consistent between the two sites with few exceptions. L. collinsii subsp. collinsii, L. confertiflora, L. esculenta, L. pueblana, L. retusa, L. greggii and L. matudae were highly resistant at both sites, while L. leucocephala, L. lempirana, L. involucrata and L. multicapitula were highly susceptible at both sites. Other species were intermediate and were allocated to either resistant or susceptible categories. There was considerable variation in psyllid resistance within some species especially, L. trichandra, L. diversifolia and L. collinsii. Regression analysis was used to determine the influence of environmental variables on psyllid populations. Psyllid population outbreaks were restricted to a temperature range of 10 °C minimum temperature and 33 °C maximum temperature, but additional, unidentified factors influenced populations within this range. Leaf chemical characteristics were examined for their potential to confer psyllid resistance, but none were strongly correlated with accession damage ratings.