GRDC Funds Research of Cereals for Drought Conditions

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will help plant breeders develop cereal varieties with enhanced performance in drought conditions. The research will be conducted in the new ‘managed environmental facilities' (MEFs) in three Australian grain growing regions of Merredin (Western Australia), Yanco (south-western New South Wales) and Narrabri (north-western NSW).

Western Australia Department of Agriculture and Forestry researcher Ben Biddulph said that, "Research at the managed environment facilities will identify traits which will form the basis for developing higher yielding, better quality cereal crops in the low and variable rainfall environments of Australia." He opined further that "Improvements in cereal yield and quality are needed to sustain the grains industry under the current conditions of low seasonal rainfall, increasing seasonal variability and climate change predictions for these areas."

Participating research organizations include the Department of Agriculture and Food of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization, University of Sydney and Industry and Investment of New South Wales. Breeding materials will be provided by the Australian Grain Technologies and the Australian Durum Wheat Improvement Program (ADWIP) as well as the Intergrain, Longreach Plant Breeding and HRZ Wheats.

The full news release can be viewed at http://www.grdc.com.au/director/events/mediareleases/?item_id=F6435FAF9BC1A4F6E7C7B3AAA18A98B0