Barley Grains Defects (Blackpoint, Pre-harvest sprouting, Kernal staining)

Screening new and existing breeding germplasm and cultivars for grain defect tolerance for breeding programs, evaluate new methods and technologies to screen more effectively for the barley grains defects - pre-harvest sprouting, blackpoint, kernel discolouration, and investigate genetic mechanisms involved in controlling barley grain defect tolerance.

Soil Micro Testing

Soil Micro Testing for nematodes on grain farms.

Soil C stocks in grains and sugar farming systems

Quantify soil C stocks in grains and sugarcane cropping systems of Queensland, including impacts of management practices.

Beneficial microbial inoculants for agriculturally important crops

Survey of rhizobium inoculation methods used in chickpeas of the northern grains region with aim to adopt technologies for future microbial inoculants.

Multispectral imaging and genomic mapping

Identifying QTLs linked to malting and protein levels in barley using multispectral image data.

Single kernel NIR assessment for QTL identification

Development and evaluation of a single kernel NIR assessment method for improving baley malting quality QTL identification.

Biological suppression of root-lesion nematodes in grain-growing soils

Root-lesion nematodes (RLNs) are found on 75% of grain farms in southern Queensland (QLD) and northern New South Wales (NSW) and are significant pests. This project confirmed that biological suppression of RLNs occurs in soils, examined what organisms are involved and how growers might enhance suppressiveness of soils. Field trials, and glasshouse and laboratory bioassays of soils from fields with contrasting management practices, showed suppressiveness is favoured with less tillage, more stubble and continuous intensive cropping, particularly in the top 15cm of soil. Through extensive surveys key organisms, Pasteuria bacteria, nematode-trapping fungi and predatory nematodes were isolated and identified as being present.

Genomics of fumigant resistance in grain pests

Collaborative project with Indian partners to study the genetics of phosphine resistance in Indian strains of grain pests.

GRDC Evaluating the role of brassica crops in South West Queensland and Northern New South Wales grain cropping system

Project to evaluate the role of brassica crops in the western farming system area.

DAN00106 Developing agronomic solutions to improve barley yield and grain quality

Producing management packages for new northern barley varieties. Evaluating silage barley varieties.

Resistance to root-lesion Nematodes for development of molecular markers

This is a sub-project of the Australian Wheat and Barley Molecular Marker Program funded by GRDC and led by Drs Diane Mather and Ken Chalmers of University of Adelaide. In this sub-project we will supply phenotypic data on resistance to two species of root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus thornei and P. neglectus) on several populations of wheat doubled haploids. We will also supply existing genotypic data on one doubled haploid population. We will also test one population of doubled haploids (CPI133872/Janz) a second time for resistance to P. thornei and P. neglectus and supply this information to University of Adelaide for the development of molecular markers for use by wheat breeders in selecting for resistance to root-lesion nematodes.

Optimising nitrogen fixation of grain and forage legumes in the northern region

This project encompasses laboratory, glasshouse and field research to improve N fixation in grain and forage legumes in the northern region and assess compatability of rhizobial strains with current and new legume varieties.

Enhancing the performance of irrigated cotton and grain in Central Queensland

R&D to facilitate incorporation of grain and pulse crop phases in Central Queensland irrigated cotton monoculture systems and improve profitability of regional cropping systems.

Facilitating IPM adoption in northern region broadacre farming systems

The principal aim of the project was to contribute to the continuing adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) by grain growers in the GRDC's northern region, specifically, the Darling Downs and Central Queensland. This project provided an ongoing commitment to the development and refinement of pest management tactics, and continued support for the grower community by raising awareness of management options and strategies for their implementation. This outcome was achieved through facilitated learning by growers and their advisers via grower group meetings, field day demonstrations, technical literature and presentations by entomologists at technical forums.

Cropping options to limit root-lesion nematodes

Australia’s northern grain-producing region is unique in that the root-lesion nematode (RLN), Pratylenchus thornei predominates. P. neglectus is also present. RLN cause substantial yield losses, particularly in wheat, but they reproduce on numerous summer and winter crops. Each nematode species prefers different crops and varieties. This project provides growers with a range of integrated management strategies to limit RLN (i.e. identify the problem, protect uninfested fields, rotate with resistant crops to keep populations low and choose tolerant crops to maximise yields). It also provides new information about soil-borne zoosporic fungi in the region.