Diseases of Pasture Legumes in Australia

Diseases have now been recognized as major constraints to pasture persistence and productivity throughout Australia. Programs such as the National Subterranean Clover Improvement Program have done much to provide a rational basis for the identification of production constraints and subsequent cultivar improvement. Such an integrative approach allows scientific input from all state and federal bodies involved in agricultural research in Australia. White clover is Australia's second most important pasture legume, yet very little work has been done to identify key pathogens. Work in this area is essential, so that breeding objectives for the proposed National White Clover Improvement Program can be soundly based. In pasture legume species which currently only occupy relatively small areas, continual monitoring of disease incidence and severity is desirable. If this is done, then significant pathogens can be taken into account during research and development projects.