Biotech Updates

Aphid-Resistant Barley Now Available

March 23, 2007

The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and collaborators released two new varieties of barley that are resistant to all known types of Russian wheat aphid (RWA). The aphid has halted barley production in parts of eastern Colorado and Wyoming, and in parts of western Nebraska and Kansas. The new varieties, ‘Sidney’ and ‘Stoneham’, were developed by crossing an RWA-resistant barley material to a feed variety that was bred for drought-susceptible eastern Colorado but has been wiped out by the RWA.

To read more: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070319.htm