CSIRO joins global wheat trial

Importing wheat for breeding into Australia can be time consuming and costly given strict quarantine regulations that safeguard Australia against pests and diseases.

Australian breeders can use the IAT results to make more informed decisions about the wheat varieties they import and exchange, the crosses they make, and the genes and traits they use, resulting in better wheat varieties for Australia.

As part of the IAT wheat breeders from Australia, including CSIRO Plant Industry, and overseas, grew 80 wheat varieties representing the diversity of Australian and international spring wheats.

The varieties were especially chosen to 'probe' the world for the occurrence of drought, specific diseases and soil chemical problems to provide information about variety stability in different environments.

Dr Scott Chapman, CSIRO Plant Industry, Brisbane and Dr Ky Mathews, The University of Queensland, analysed the IAT results and combined them with weather, soil and geographical data to determine how wheat with particular traits is likely to perform in key locations around the world.

This research is done in collaboration with The University of Queensland and is supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

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