The Genetic Improvement team develop and evaluate new breeding lines and genetic traits under WA environmental conditions. This is provided to crop breeding companies, including InterGrain, for the development of better crop varieties.
DPIRD's Genetic Improvement research is focussed on wheat, barley, oats, canola, lupins, chickpea, lentil and field pea.
Genetic Improvement Research Priorities
- Enhance abiotic stress tolerance
- Enhance disease resistance
- Enhance commercial potential (yield, quality)
- Germplasm resourcing
- Technology adoption and development (image/sensor based phenotyping; gene editing)
Priority Projects
- Doubled haploid production [2]
- NVT disease screening services [3]
- Precision gene editing for targeted trait improvement in grain crops [4]
- Fast tracking the delivery of improved chilling tolerance chickpea for Australian growers [5]
- Increasing stable lupin productivity through enhanced disease resistance [6]
- Increasing wheat yield and yield stability through improved heat tolerance during grain filling [7]