New Zealand's pastures could become more tolerant to disease, pests and drought if an application to release 18 new grass species wins approval according to AgResearch, improving productivity, increasing returns to farmers and enhancing the environment.
AgResearch's Margot Forde Germplasm Centre has applied to the EPA to evaluate the grasses'potential in real farm conditions, rather than in the laboratory or containment facilities. The EPA is now calling for submissions.
The species are all closely related to perennial ryegrass, New Zealand's most common pasture grass, the aim being to transfer desirable traits from the 18 species to ryegrass by integration and crossbreeding. The new species would not themselves be grown as pasture.
While new to New Zealand, the 18 species are distant relatives of New Zealand native grasses, so it is regarded as highly unlikely that they would hybridise naturally with natives.
All were wild relatives of pasture grass species already in cultivation in New Zealand that had adapted to harsher growing environments overseas and possessed desirable traits such as drought tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and nutrient efficient.
AgResearch says incorporating these traits could improve the resilience of local pasture and reduce the need for fertiliser, irrigation, pesticides and herbicides, lowering farmers' input costs and enabling more sustainable, environmentally-friendly farming practices.
The current lack of diversity in New Zealand ryegrass made it vulnerable to disease, EPA senior communications adviser Michael Pearson said.
AgResearch would pay particular attention to the potential for any new cultivars to become weeds affecting maize, wheat, barley and other crops, and would work with Plant and Food Research.
