Resarchers identify more tolerant wheat

Researchers at the University of Southern Queensland's Centre for Rural and Environmental Biotechnology are expanding major research and development projects for improved wheat crops in Australia and China.

A team led by Associate Professor Mark Sutherland and Dr Grant Daggard are using the latest DNA marker technologies to identify wheat lines more tolerant to disease and environmental stresses.

In addition, the team is working with colleagues around the nation to genetically improve the product quality of harvested wheat grain for domestic and international markets. In 2000 these markets totalled $5.5 billion.

Projects include identification of genes associated with wheat flowering and disease resistance, assessment of transgenic wheats for frost tolerance, and mapping and analysis of the wheat genome.

For further information please contact Associate Prof. Robert Learmonth

Item provided courtesy of Science Industry Australia