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Oat Breeding

Vetch Breeding

DAS00059 - Improved vetch varieties for Australian farmers and end-users (June 2008)
Project will focus on national vetch improvement and development. The emphasis will be to breed disease resistant and low toxin varieties adopted to low/medium rainfall areas.

During the last 3 years, following many interviews with producers and end-users, the breeding program has gathered much information and developed new directions. Growers of grain and hay demand varieties that are high yielding, well adaptable for particular areas, with good early establishment, possessing soft seeds and resistance to rust and aschocyta. They also want lower seed prices and easier access to new varieties. The feed value of vetch grain and hay is considered good by end-users, but they complained about huge shortages of vetch hay and expensive grain. Both producers and end users assert that the area sown to vetch would be two to two and a half times larger if seed costs were more reasonable.
Project Supervisor: Rade Matic
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Pulse Breeding

DAN00094 - Australian Chickpea Breeding Program (June 2011)
The Australian Chickpea Breeding Program will fast track regionally adapted desi and kabuli chickpea varieties through the efficient, coordinated utilisation of state government agency resources. These varieties will increase profitability through increased yield potential and stability, lower production costs and improved seed quality. The consequent impact on grower confidence will increase sustainability of cropping rotations, especially in regions with limited pulse options.

Future outcomes will be achieved through genetic improvement to:

- Resistance to disease (especially ascochyta blight and phytophthora, but also root-lesion nematode, botrytis grey mould and virus)
- Matching phenology to regional environments
- Tolerance of 'hostile' soil factors (salinity and boron)
- Tolerance of commonly used herbicides
- Seed quality (appearance, milling and cooking quality)

The progressive combination of key traits above is a pre-requisite for continued, long-term improvement.
Project Supervisor: Larn McMurray
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

DAV00071 - Australian Field Pea Breeding Program (June 2011)
The program will deliver superior field pea varieties that will increase field pea production and profitability in Australia. This will be achieved through greater productivity, reliability of yield and quality, reduced inputs and new market access. Breeding lines will also be developed that contain new traits or combination of traits for future breeding and / or release.

Future outcomes will be achieved through the following genetic improvements:
- Improved yield potential and reliability,
- Lodging resistance at harvest,
- Pod shatter resistance at harvest,
- Disease resistance to blackspot, bacterial blight, downy mildew, powdery mildew.
- Tolerance to high soil boron and salt,
- Tolerance to commonly used and novel herbicides
- Improved tolerance to frost at podding.

The pyramiding of key traits above is critical for breeding superior varieties long term. Germplasm enhancement will be required to improve resistance to bacterial blight, blackspot and frost.
Project Supervisor: Larn McMurray
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

DAV00072 - Australian Lentil Breeding Program (June 2011)
This program will deliver superior red and green lentil varieties that will increase lentil production and profitability in Australia through greater productivity, reliability of yield and quality, reduced inputs and new market access. Breeding lines will also be developed that contain new traits or combinations of traits for future breeding and/or release. Future outcomes will be achieved through the following genetic improvements:

- Appropriate phenology for wide adaptation
- Resistance to ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould - reliable yield and quality, reduction in fungicide use
- Superior quality - red lentils with improved milling and large green lentils
- Easier harvesting and lower harvest losses - increased height and lodging resistance, reduced pod drop
- Tolerance to soil limitations - boron and salinity
- Vigorous growth and competitiveness with weeds
- Tolerance to commonly used broadleaf herbicides
- Resistance to the exotic diseases anthracnose, fusarium and rust
Project Supervisor: Larn McMurray
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

UA00079 - Faba Bean Breeding Southern & Western Regions (December 2007)
This project will lead to the breeding and release of high yielding, disease resistant, high quality varieties that are well adapted to particular zones in the Southern and Western regions. These varieties will be critical to the Australian faba bean industry reaching the potential outlined in the Pulse Industry Strategic Plan. SARDI will provide field evaluation of early generation faba bean and broad bean lines in the South East and Eyre Peninsula regions of SA.
Project Supervisor: Jim Egan (for SARDI field evaluation component)
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Canola

DAS00047 - National Brassica Improvement Program: South Australian Component (June 2007)
The outcome of the single plant selection process in SA will be better adapted varieties with higher yield and oil content. This will result in canola and canola quality mustard being including in rotations on more farms in the low rainfall area of southern Australia due to higher economic returns from the Brassica plant.
Project Supervisor: Mr Trent Potter
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation 

Wheat Breeding

3.208a - MPB germplasm (June 2008)
The aims of this project is to develop elite germ plasm with tolerance to hostile environments and resistance to disease and to identify the genetic basis of tolerance to hostile environments focusing initially on salinity and drought tolerance.
Project Supervisor: Dr Hugh Wallwork
Funder: CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding

Field Crop Pathology

DAS00036 - TRINOC Tri-inoculation for enhanced wheat growth under disease limit (June 2008)
There are currently no control measures available for the control of bare-patch or crown rot diseases in wheat cropping systems. Tri-inoculation of wheat with a mixture of these three bacterial groups (TRINOC) may have economic potential for increasing plant growth under conditions where yield is limited by complexes of soilborne fungal pathogens. Increased formulation technology expertise in Australia will enhance our capacity to develop commercial style formulations.
Project Supervisor: Dr Kathy Ophel-Keller
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

DAS00048 - Control of cereal fungal diseases (extension of DAS336) (June 2009)
This project will provide a critical resource for managing fungal diseases of wheat, durum and barley to the grains industry through the provision of accurate and timely information to growers, advisors and other research and industry personnel. The project will monitor diseases, identify sources of resistance, screen barley breeder's lines and identify the genetic basis of resistance. The project will also develop some specific germ plasm that enhances the ability of wheat and barley breeding programs to deliver new varieties with improved disease resistance.
Project Supervisor: Dr Hugh Wallwork
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

DAS00057 - National Variety Trials (NVT) - Resistance to Fungal Diseases
Provision of a screening service for the assessment of NVT lines for resistance to septoria tritici blotch, yellow leaf spot, crown rot, common root rot, flag smut and bunt. Also assess naturally infected NVT yield trials for disease resistance.
Project Supervisor: Dr Hugh Wallwork
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

DAS00071 - Pathology in Pulse Cropsa in the southern region- SA module (June 2009)
Pulse pathogens will be monitored to ensure that resistant cultivars remain effective and any new incursions are quickly identified. Studies will be conducted to understand pathogen epidemiology leading to effective management strategies.
Project Supervisor: Jenny Davidson
Funded by: Grains Research and Development Corporation

DAS00073 - Crown rot management for durum and bread wheats for the southern region (June 2009)
This project will focus on options for reducing break periods; understanding the role of cereal types and varieties in managing crown rot; developing resistant/tolerant wheat lines; assessing the impact of nitrogen on yield losses; developing methods for assessing paddock crown rot risk levels.
Project Supervisor: Dr Hugh Wallwork
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

S1/05 - Validation of DNA soil assays for key pulse pathogens (June 2008)
This project aims to develop DNA soil tests for priority pulse pathogens, assess the value of the DNA soil tests as a measure of soil inoculum in the field and validate DNA soil tests in field situations.
Project Supervisor: Jenny Davidson
Funder: SA Grains Industry Trust

S0206R - DNA monitoring tools for disease suppressive microflora (June 2009)
This project aims to develop and calibrate DNA soil tests for beneficial soil organisms (Trichoderma fungi and Pantoea, Exiguobacterium and Microbacteria), which have a demonstrated role in disease suppression. These tests will be used as research tools and evaluated for potential as grower aids to monitor suppression.
Project Supervisor: Dr Kathy Ophel Keller
Funder: SA Grains Industry Trust

Nematology

DAS00057 - National Variety Trials (NVT) - Resistance to Root lesion nematodes (RLN) (Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei) and Cereal Cyst Nematode (CCN)
Provision of a screening service in advanced wheat lines and recently released varieties for the assessment of resistance to the Cereal Cyst Nematode (CCN), Heterodera avenae and the Root Lesion Nematodes (RLN), Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei.
Project Supervisor: Dr Sharyn Taylor
Funder: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Diagnostic Services

DEH7/2005 - Development of gene probes for introduced marine pest species (July 2007)
The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) - Aquatic Sciences in collaboration with the Root Disease Testing Service (a joint arrangement between SARDI Crops and CSIRO Entomology) has been engaged by the Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra to develop genetic probes for three marine pests; Asian date mussel (Musculista senhousia), European fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii) and European clam (Corbula gibba). This project builds upon previous success this collaboration has had in the development of probes for taxa employed in environmental monitoring.

This study has been sponsored as part of development of the National System For Control Of Introduced Marine Pests (the National System). All three species are amongst several others designated as requiring management under the national system, with a specific need to limit their further spread through ballast water. Rapid and reliable detection systems are thus required.
Project Supervisor: Dr Kathy Ophel Keller
Funder: Department of Environment and Heritage

SHP.018 - Pasture Soil Biology Molecular Assays - Pilot Delivery (June 2007)
This project seeks to develop a pilot delivery program to help educate researchers on the potential deployment and value of the outputs from SHP.005 and engage targeted research groups in evaluting the assays within their research projects. Key components of the process will be to develop a resource manual, develop and deliver training/education sessions for researchers and engage with targeted research groups to use the assays in their research and evaluate the outcomes.
Project Supervisor: Dr Alan McKay
Funder: Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd

S0506R - Farming systems guide to assessing impacts of root diseases in field trials (June 2007)
This project aims to develop and deliver a training course and manual for scientists and technical staff who conduct field trials to develop improved cropping systems to review the main soilborne pathogens of crops, provide training in the use of the Root Disease Testing Service to assess trials, including sampling issues and give guideance on developing disease management strategies based on DNA results.
Project Supervisor: Dr Alan McKay
Funder: SA Grains Industry Trust