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Output Group 1: Varieties

Overview

The Varieties output group reaches across the GRDC's 25 leviable crops, spanning winter cereal crops, summer coarse grains, pulses and oilseeds. It supports crop improvement for domestic and export industries based on grain, with the aim of raising the overall value of the Australian grains industry.

The output group includes GRDC investments in gene discovery, breeding technologies, functional genomics, germplasm enhancement, genetic transformation, plant breeding, crop variety testing, grain quality research, and plant pathology (where directly related to breeding).

The continuing prosperity of the industry depends on the development of new varieties with enhanced yields as well as quality attributes that add value and meet market demands. The latter is being achieved by collaborating with grain marketers and bulk handlers to clarify end-user requirements.

Growing superior high-yielding varieties using optimal systems for crop management will lead to increased productivity. The search for new sources of disease resistance to incorporate into crop plants continues, alongside research to improve our understanding of the processes involved in resistance breakdown.

Inputs

In total, $49.8 million was invested through the Varieties output group in 2006-07.

In addition, the Varieties output group attracted significant co-investment from its research partners. The output group also relied on the skills and expertise of the people within partner organisations.

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Outputs

New improved varieties

Wheat

In 2006-07, the GRDC and its state government R&D partners worked to reposition public sector wheat-breeding activities to become national programs competing for market share and that are rewarded through End Point Royalties (EPRs). Expressions of interest were sought for a new partner in the joint venture Enterprise Grains Australia (EGA), to commercialise varieties and to increasingly take on the breeding activities for north-eastern Australia.

Shareholders in Australian Grain Technologies Pty Ltd (AGT) continued to support this national wheat-breeding operation in 2006-07. AGT and the Western Australian grain grower company Council of Grain Grower Organisations Ltd established the joint venture AGT-WA, providing a base for AGT's breeding activities in Western Australia.

The CSIRO wheat-breeding program continued to address the needs of growers, particularly mixed enterprise farmers in the high-rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia. The varieties produced from this breeding program are dual-purpose 'grain and graze' wheats.

The National Wheat Breeders' Alliance was formed during 2006-07. Importantly, the alliance has established priorities for pre-breeding R&D in Australia which will be an ongoing activity for the alliance. It has also been working with industry including the Australian Seed Federation to address industry concerns regarding EPRs, such as confusion around the implementation of plant breeder's rights EPR collection.

The drought had a significant impact on the wheat-breeding programs in 2006-07. For example, AGT sowed its largest field program ever, but a significant number of its trials in southern New South Wales and Victoria had to be abandoned because of lack of moisture.

In 2006-07, three new wheat varieties were released for growers:

• EGA Burke, a product from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F), is a noodle wheat with a yield advantage over comparable varieties in northern New South Wales as well as excellent disease resistance.
• Binnu, a product from the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), is an udon noodle wheat with competitive yields as well as improved quality and disease resistance.
• Gladius, a product from AGT, is broadly adapted and has the ability to out-yield currently grown varieties in lower yield potential areas when under drought stress.

Growers also accessed new varieties produced by the private sector wheat breeders LongReach Plant Breeders (Catalina and Guardian varieties) and Nugrain (Derrimut variety).

The durum-breeding programs currently conducted through AGT at the University of Adelaide and at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI), continued to make good progress. Growers gained access to a new durum variety from NSWDPI: Jandaroi, which offers the advantage of being a quick maturing line.

Communications around durum-breeding projects were supported by the durum industry development officer and durum industry grower groups in northern New South Wales and South Australia. Because these projects are approaching the end of their GRDC funding cycles, a situation analysis of the durum-breeding industry was undertaken in 2006-07 to guide future investment decisions.

Coarse grains

Barley Breeding Australia (BBA) commenced operations on 1 July 2006, and is implementing a national plan for breeding improved varieties to benefit the barley industry. Its key performance indicators require the development, release and adoption of varieties meeting specific market and regional needs, and the assessment of operational performance within the 'Best Practice in Breeding' framework.

BBA West, in addition to conducting trials in Western Australia, is now trialling its germplasm in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, on neutral to acid soils. Similarly, BBA South has extended its trial network to cover the neutral to alkaline soils in New South Wales, Victoria and southern Western Australia. Germplasm from the NSWDPI and Victorian breeding programs is being progressed and integrated into the operations of BBA West and BBA South.

BBA North is actively changing its primary focus from breeding malt varieties to breeding feed varieties. This change is needed to meet future demand for feed grain in north-eastern Australia.

During 2006-07 BBA enhanced linkages between investors in barley breeding and evaluation with groups further along the industry pipeline. For example:

• priorities for pre-breeding R&D have been established
• germplasm introduction into Australia is being coordinated
• growers, industry development officers, agronomists, bulk handlers and marketers are liaising through regional barley advisory committees
• dialogue with Barley Australia is helping to resolve issues related to variety identification, accreditation and marketing.

No new varieties of barley were released in 2006-07 as there were multiple releases in 2005-06, including six new malting varieties and two new feed varieties.

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Pulses

Chickpeas

In 2006-07, NSWDPI, in partnership with the GRDC, released two new chickpea varieties that will be a major boost for the industry, Flipper and Yorker . The varieties' improved resistance to the fungal disease ascochyta blight will enable growers to substantially reduce, or in some situations eliminate, the use of foliar fungicides to protect their crops from this lethal disease.

Flipper is a tall, medium-seeded variety suited to the higher rainfall areas of New South Wales. Yorker has medium to large seeds and is ideally suited to the whole-seed export market. As well as useful resistance to ascochyta, it has increased resistance to phytophthora root rot, the Northern Region's other major disease.

Peanuts

The GRDC-supported breeding program released three new peanut varieties in 2006-07:

• Ashton is an excellent option for dryland growers, and has quality attributes with potential to increase profitability and value-adding for the peanut industry.
• Sutherland has outstanding resistance to peanut foliar diseases (leaf spot and leaf rust), which will allow stabilisation of peanut yields in environments where foliar disease control has been difficult, such as in the rapidly expanding coastal production systems. It will also greatly reduce fungicide use, leading to huge environmental benefits.
• Walter is an ultra-early (110-day) maturing variety that will deliver a modest yield of marketable peanuts in even the harshest seasons. Walter will provide dryland peanut farmers with an extra option to spread their drought-related risk, and a greater range of possible sowing dates.

The industry continues to develop only 'Hi Oleic' lines. Hi Oleic peanuts have a higher ratio of oleic fatty acid than regular peanuts. This has health benefits for consumers as well as commercial benefits including flavour stability and longer shelf life.

Lentils

Two superior lentil varieties have been commercialised. Nipper (red lentil) and Boomer (green lentil) have better disease resistance to ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould than currently grown lentils, and are expected to be available to Australian growers in 2008.

Both varieties underwent extensive agronomic testing in 2006. The testing showed that the improved varieties will require less fungicide application to maintain disease control, resulting in large financial and environmental cost savings.

Because of exceptionally dry conditions in 2006-07, further breeding trials will be conducted in 2007 to provide reliable information and validate the performance of the other most advanced breeding lines. These lines will be in the pipeline for commercialisation over the next five years.

Canola

Australia's first variety of canola-quality juncea, Dune, was released in 2006-07 to provide grain growers in lower rainfall areas with a profitable and reliable canola variety. It has taken considerable effort and development to transform the mustard Brassica juncea into a canola-quality oilseed.

When grown in lower rainfall environments, Dune has yields similar to those of traditional canola varieties but with a higher oil potential. Dune also offers improved heat tolerance, strong seedling vigour, quick emergence, rapid canopy closure and shatter tolerance, thereby significantly reducing production costs for growers.

New advanced germplasm

National genetic resources centre

In line with the strategy to reduce fragmentation and duplication in pre-breeding, the GRDC has promoted a coordinated approach to the operation of Australian plant genetic resources centres. The GRDC continues to work with the Australian Government and state governments to transition to an Australian National Genetic Resources Centre (ANGRC). An Interim Executive Coordinator, Paul Hattersley, was appointed to the ANGRC in October 2006.

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National alliance

The development of advanced germplasm, with associated molecular markers, for use by Australian breeding programs is an area of significant public investment. Much of the work is high risk and expensive, with long lead times before benefits are delivered to growers. It is therefore important that research is focused on the traits that will have the greatest positive impact on the viability and sustainability of the Australian grains industry.

During 2006-07, the GRDC worked with research partners to promote a more coordinated, national approach to cereal germplasm enhancement. Agreement was reached to form the Australian Winter Cereals Pre-Breeding Alliance, involving representatives of state departments and other major research organisations, including the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), the Value Added Wheat Cooperative Research Centre, the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre and CSIRO.

By generating a greater level of communication, coordination and collaboration between research organisations involved in pre-breeding, the alliance aims to:

• better utilise resources to address issues of importance to the grains industry
• enhance the speed of delivery of research outputs to Australian plant breeders
• bring together research teams and skills to tackle the most challenging and economically significant problems facing the grains industry
• enhance linkages with the international pre-breeding research community.

In 2006-07, in support of these aims the alliance commenced coordinating research activities for the highest priority traits and formalising simplified intellectual property arrangements between participants.

International alliances

The introduction of new genetic material through access to international germplasm continues to be a very important part of the development of Australian crop varieties. A successful model has been the alliance negotiated with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) based in Mexico.

Through GRDC-sponsored visits to CIMMYT, Australian wheat breeders have selected promising CIMMYT germplasm on site, thereby increasing the relevance of imported germplasm to Australian wheat-breeding programs. These selections are in addition to more than 1,500 lines that are already imported to Australia from CIMMYT.

In March 2006, eight wheat breeders (including representatives from AGT, DAFWA, CSIRO, EGA and LongReach Plant Breeders) selected 1,049 lines displaying tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, heat and new sources of rust resistance. The lines were imported into Australia and entered quarantine in January 2007. They are being multiplied for distribution to Australian breeding programs in early 2007-08. In March 2007, another four Australian wheat breeders visited CIMMYT to inspect and select germplasm for importation

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria also has much to offer the Australian grains industry. ICARDA works with agricultural institutions, governments and other organisations in the developing world, as well as with advanced research institutes in industrialised countries. ICARDA's work on durum wheat, bread wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils and faba beans is of particular interest to the GRDC.

In August 2005, a visit to ICARDA by GRDC Chair Terry Enright and Program Manager Richard Brettell identified areas of common interest where a closer relationship between the organisations will result in demonstrable benefits for Australian growers. An alliance to formally define areas of cooperation was signed (by GRDC Chair Terry Enright) in May 2007. Two new strategic projects are supporting collaborative work under the alliance: one on breeding chickpeas for drought tolerance and disease resistance, and the other being on enhancing yield and yield stability in bread wheat.

Gene discovery and new technologies

In 2006-07, the GRDC continued to make long-term, strategic investments in gene discovery, functional genomics and new technologies to supply Australian breeding programs of the future with useful breeding technologies and novel traits.

The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics has made progress in the study of genes that control plant reactions to abiotic stress, including mineral toxicity, drought and salinity. As one of several GRDC-supported organisations that provide opportunities for new plant scientists to develop their specialisations, the centre supported more than 30 PhD students in 2006-07.

The Value Added Wheat CRC continued to deliver genotyping and related services to breeders, and progressed the development of a new triticale variety to the point of application for plant breeder's rights protection in 2007.

In 2006, the Cereal Functional Genomics Program, a prior joint effort between the University of Melbourne and the University of Adelaide that is now part of the ACPFG, identified genes which produce beta-glucans, a form of dietary fibre, in barley. Beta glucans help prevent and treat conditions such as colorectal cancer, obesity, non-insulin dependent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. They are also important in beer making. The research team is now manipulating the amount of beta-glucans to improve the processing and end-use qualities of barley for human and animal consumption.

The Grain Protection Genes program, with CSIRO, has discovered novel approaches to fungal and insect pest resistance. During 2006-07, new patents were filed for technology applications; commercial partnerships are now being sought to bring these technologies to market.

The Australian Winter Cereals Molecular Marker Program has enhanced the efficiency of breeding programs by allowing breeders to combine a greater number of desirable traits into a single plant over a shorter period of time. The success of the program is reflected in the fact that Australian wheat-breeding and barley-breeding programs now lead the world in marker-assisted breeding.

With GRDC support, Australian researchers have again participated in the international 'Brassica A' genome-sequencing program this year. This program links Australian canola researchers with key research collaborators overseas. It has produced candidate genes and molecular markers for resistance to blackleg disease, which is a major constraint for canola production in Australia.

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Delivery channels for GM crops in Australia

Over the past 18 months industry and government agencies have commissioned several studies investigating issues related to the introduction of GM crops into Australia. These studies, focusing on GM canola, have documented co-existence and identity preservation requirements for grain production and marketing.

To complement these reports, the GRDC Varieties and New Products output groups jointly commissioned a study specifically relating to the delivery platform and supply chain requirements for GM wheat and barley crops and products within the Australian grains industry. The report on performance for the New Products output group provides more details of the study.

National Variety Trials

The GRDC funds the National Variety Trials (NVT) to provide growers and their advisers with independent information on the agronomic performance of new variety releases of winter cereals, canola and selected pulse crops.

NVT entered its second year of operation in 2006. Trials were conducted at 216 locations across mainland Australia, and the results were published on the NVT website, www.nvtonline.com.au.

The drought had a severe impact on many trials, especially across the southern and northern regions. As a result, many trial entries were renominated for the 2007 trial season, putting pressure on limited resources.

The 2006 season again offered opportunities to review policy and operational elements of NVT so as to enhance the trial and information system and its service to growers. Planning has commenced for improvements such as the publication of basic variety passport information about as yet unreleased trial entries and the introduction of routine trial inspections.

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Output Group 1-Varieties

Investment priorities	Achievements
Wheat breeding	The GRDC worked with its state government partners to reposition wheat breeding for a future in which national programs compete for market share and are self-sustained by revenue from End Point Royalties. Expressions of interest were sought for a commercial partner for Enterprise Grains Australia (EGA). Both the EGA’s and the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia’s, wheat-breeding programs continued to meet their breeding targets. Three new varieties from GRDC-supported wheat-breeding programs were made available to growers. The National Wheat Breeders’ Alliance was formed.
Barley breeding	Barley Breeding Australia (BBA) formally commenced operations on 1 July 2006. In 2006–07: material from the previous state-based system of independent breeding programs was integrated into the coordinated, national program the three breeding nodes of BBA established new trial networks to ensure growers’ needs are catered for across barley‑growing states cooperation across the industry, from pre-breeding to marketing, was enhanced.
Maize breeding	A new maize line for the wet tropics, with 13% higher yield, entered the final stages of evaluation in 2006–07 and is expected to be released in 2007–08.
Pulse breeding	The new national pulse-breeding program, Pulse Breeding Australia, commercialised new varieties including: two new chickpea varieties, with better resistance to fungal disease two new lentil varieties, with better resistance to ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould. In addition, three new field pea lines with improved yield, earlier flowering and semi-dwarfing traits entered the final stage of evaluation.
Canola breeding	Dune, Australia’s first variety of canola‑quality juncea, was released providing growers in lower rainfall areas with a profitable and reliable canola crop.
Peanut breeding	Three new peanut varieties (Ashton, Sutherland and Walter) which are giving peanut growers increased flexibility in dry climates, higher yields and better resistance to foliar diseases were commercialised.
Other breeding programs	New lupin, mung bean and oat varieties entered final stage evaluation in 2006–07 and are expected to be released in 2007–08.
Gene discovery and new technologies	The GRDC’s investments in gene discovery, functional genomics and new technologies continued, through the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, the Cereal Functional Genomics Program, Grain Protection Genes, and the Australian Winter Cereals Molecular Marker Program.
Development of enhanced germplasm	A national alliance was established for pre-breeding of winter cereals. The alliance includes major grains industry research organisations in Australia and has commenced coordinating research activities for the highest priority traits.
Faster adoption of better varieties	The National Variety Trials (NVT) program conducted 556 trials at 216 locations across mainland Australia. Though the drought affected many trials, results from 295 trials were made available to growers on www.nvtonline.com.au.
Indicators	Performance
Wheat-breeding programs achieve key milestones for 2006–07	Germplasm continued to be assessed and selected in 2006–07 according to the specifications of research agreements and annual operating plans, although some results were affected by drought, particularly in southern New South Wales and Victoria.
Barley Breeding Australia, the newly established national barley-breeding program, achieves key milestones during its first year of operation	The majority of milestones in the six research contracts making up BBA were successfully achieved despite the effects of severe drought. Where there was non-achievement, it generally occurred because reduced numbers of trials were able to be harvested due to the drought.
The newly established National Pulse Breeding Program (now known as Pulse Breeding Australia) achieves key milestones for field pea, chickpea, faba bean and lentil breeding	Milestones in the eight research contracts were successfully achieved despite the effects of severe drought. Progress was made in pyramiding desirable traits that will lead to the release of pulse varieties with improved crop reliability and yield potential.
New alliances, in addition to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), are established to introduce and evaluate potentially valuable international germplasm	More than 1,500 CIMMYT wheat lines were imported into Australia. These lines potentially contain new sources of tolerance to drought and heat, and resistance to rusts and other biosecurity threats such as karnal bunt. During a visit to CIMMYT, Australian wheat breeders personally selected an additional 1,049 lines for importation. A strategic alliance was established with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria. The alliance will see the GRDC and ICARDA working on breeding new chickpea varieties with drought tolerance and disease resistance, and enhancing yield and yield stability in bread wheat.
Major research programs—the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), the Value Added Wheat Cooperative Research Centre, the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre and the Australian Winter Cereals Molecular Marker Program—achieve key milestones for 2006–07	The ACPFG and the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) continued to develop novel traits for breeders, using world-class science. Both organisations have leveraged significant international investment. The Value Added Wheat CRC delivered genotyping and other services to the wheat-breeding community, and progressed a new triticale variety to the point of plant breeder’s rights protection. All the organisations trained a great number of young plant scientists. The ACPFG alone had more than 30 PhD students in 2006–07. The success of the Australian Winter Cereals Molecular Marker Program was reflected in the routine use of markers in all major wheat and barley-breeding programs.
NVT achieves key milestones and implements planned enhancements on time	All grain-breeding companies across Australia continued to participate in the NVT program. Milestones for the provision of independent performance data on new varieties were achieved. Ten wheat varieties and ten canola varieties released at the end of 2006 were all evaluated in the NVT program prior to their release, and their performance results were made readily available to growers. The NVT network in Queensland was expanded to ten locations. For most crops, trial results were made available to growers through www.nvtonline.com.au one month earlier in 2006 than in 2005 (the actual month varies for each crop). While all milestones were met, the need to improve the user-friendliness of the website was identified. The mechanism for bulk export of trial performance data from NVT online was expanded to include receival standard tests.

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