Performance of fourteen Leucaena lines at five sites in Queensland.

Abstract

Ten lines of L. leucocephala, 1 of L. diversifolia and 3 L. leucocephala × L. pulverulenta F₁ hybrids were grown at 5 contrasting sites in Queensland. Harvests were taken over 3 growing seasons, and DM yields estimated. The F₁ hybrids were outstanding in most environments, outyielding cv. Cunningham by an average of 45%. The L. leucocephala lines CPI 58396 and CPI 61227 and cv. K8 consistently outyielded cv. Cunningham by an average of 24%. When 2 contrasting cutting intervals were compared at Lansdown, there was no effect on DM yields, although the longer cutting interval produced more wood. The range of mimosine concn. in the L. leucocephala lines was 4.1-5.6%. CPI 61227 had significantly lower mimosine content than cv. Cunningham. The genotype × site interaction for total yield was significant (P<0.01). However, ranking of lines of L. leucocephala was fairly consistent across environments.