In this section:
Research Projects
Crown rot is a fungal disease caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum of durum crops in South Australia. All varieties are very susceptible and rotation and paddock management are the only effective control options at present.
Bread wheats can also suffer severe crown rot although less frequently.
A Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) funded is investigating the factors which influence inoculum levels of Fusarium pseudograminearum and F. culmorum, the two fungal species that cause crown rot in South Australia and Victoria.
The project uses DNA detection systems to monitor levels of crown rot inoculum in plants, plots and paddocks under a range of rotations and crop and stubble management systems. The technique is also being used to assess disease resistance in field grown plants.
Advanced lines of wheat and durum with potential resistance to crown rot are being evaluated in field trials in this project.
Differential isolates of Rhynchosporium secalis have been and continue to be identified using differential barley varieties.
These isolates are being used to identify and characterise the resistance in a wide range of varieties, introductions and breeding lines.
To this end a screening service is being provided to breeding programs around Australia.
This work is based on seedling tests, but we are heading towards the use of specific isolates to detect adult plant resistances in seedling tests.
Barley Disease Resistance
The Cereal Pathology Group is responsible for providing support to the Barley Breeding Program in SA.
This involves identifying new sources of resistance, maintaining supplies of fungal cultures, managing laboratory and field screening systems and providing data on the disease resistance status of breeding lines.
This work is funded by GRDC through the project 'Control of cereal fungal diseases'.
The main diseases worked on are scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) spot form net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f maculata), net form net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f teres) and leaf rust (Puccinia hordei).
Other pathogens we are involved with are common root rot (Bipolaris sorokiniana), covered smut (Ustilago segetum var hordei), powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis), ring spot (Pyrenophora semeniperda) and Wirrega blotch (Drechslera wirreganensis).
This project is also seeking new sources of resistance to scald and spot form net blotch.
DH populations are made from the most promising sources and these are phenotyped and chromosome locations sought for each of them using molecular markers through the Australian Wheat and Barley Molecular Marker Program.
The best lines identified are used for early germplasm development work.
Wheat Disease Resistance
The Cereal Pathology Group identifies new sources of resistance to fungal diseases, maintains supplies of fungal cultures, manages laboratory and field screening systems and provides data to industry on the disease resistance status of breeding lines.
This work is funded by GRDC through the project 'Control of cereal fungal diseases' and also through the National Variety Testing (NVT) system.
The main diseases worked on are crown rot (Fusarium pseudograminearum), common root rot (Bipolaris sorokiniana), septoria tritici blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) and yellow leaf spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis).
Other pathogens we work with are stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), leaf rust (P. triticina), stem rust (P. graminis), bunt (Tilletia sp), and flag smut (Urocystis agropyri). Data on the resistance of varieties is provided to growers and their advisors through the Cereal Variety Disease Guide Link.
This project is also involved in the investigating the genetic control of resistance to crown rot and the development of linked molecular markers through participation in the GRDC funded Australian Wheat and Barley Molecular Marker Program.
Wheat germplasm development - resistance to crown rot in durums
Wheat germplasm development - resistance to crown rot in durums
This project is funded by GRDC as part of a larger program 'Control of cereal fungal diseases'.
The project has identified partial resistance in lines of Triticum dicoccon and this is being transferred into adapted durum varieties.
Wheat germplasm development - tolerance to abiotic stresses
This project is funded by the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre (MPBCRC) and is investigating moisture stress tolerance and salt tolerance in association with partners in the University of Adelaide, at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).
The project is based on a mapping population derived from a cross between the varieties Berkut (CIMMYT) and Krichauff (SA), both lines with outstanding tolerance to dry and hostile soil environments.
A full genetic map has been made of the population and physiological and yield assessments are being made across years and locations to identify key loci influencing yield in plants under stress and to investigate their interactions and economic benefits.
