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Speedy new wheat
without GE
Researchers at the Wheat Co-operative Research Centre will use new genetic breeding techniques to produce wheat with characteristics like varying colours for noodle markets, better flour for baking, or enhanced disease resistance. "We're using advanced genetic sciences, but not gene splicing, so the technology had the potential to capture GMO-wary international markets," said Dr William Rathmell, Managing Director of the Wheat Cooperative Research Centre. "Almost 80% of Australia’s wheat crop is exported, and with the current arguments over genetic modification, Australia is in a position to develop wheat with specific traits for overseas markets without splitting genes”, said Dr Rathmell. “Current figures suggest this research can achieve $80-$90 benefit per dollar invested.” In wheat breeding, several thousands of wheat lines are produced per year and then only those with the desired traits are selected. Dr Rathmell said that until the development of new molecular marker techniques this was a very time consuming process. Molecular marker technology involves identifying flags which indicate if the genes for desireable traits are present in the chromosomes of a plant. Natural breeding processes can be accelerated by utilising such technology to more easily and quickly select the best quality cross-breds.
"Marker testing is rapid – it can be carried out in a matter of hours," Dr Rathmell said. "Breeders are therefore able to test not only that they still have the normal characteristics, but that they have added special characteristics - rather than waiting for a crop to grow, be harvested and then tested." "Molecular marker technology has only recently been applied in wheat and Australia's molecular marker program in wheat is one of the best in the world," Dr Rathmell said. The researchers say that technology developed by the Wheat Co-operative Research Centre will be commercially released by 2003, much sooner than any GMO wheats with improved quality are likely to be commercially available. Anna Salleh - ABC Science
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