Sowing the seeds of success

A research project on disease-resistant fodder crops has been applauded for its novel commercial outcomes, receiving a 2006 Award for Excellence in Innovation from the Cooperative Research Centres Assocation.

Professor John Irwin, a Plant Pathologist at The University of Queensland, CEO of the UQ-based Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Plant Protection, and 2006 Farrer Medallist, led the research project to produce nine disease-resistant, high-yielding forage cultivars for the global livestock industries: six lucerne varieties, one oat, one cowpea and one stylo.

The CRC’s new cultivars have opened up markets for Australian seed companies in Argentina and Saudi Arabia, expanding the $14 billion annual flow-on benefits for fodder crops to the beef, sheep, dairy, and horse industries.

The two newest varieties developed out of the project – lucerne cultivars commercialised by Toowoomba seed company Pacific Seeds – were recently valued at $45 million in extra production to farmers.

The project’s work involved collaborations between researchers at the University of Queensland, Queensland`s Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and CSIRO, using DNA marker technologies to identify resistant genes which were then introduced into new lucerne cultivars.

These molecular-based technologies allowed the team to facilitate recombining several resistance genes into the one plant, enhancing traditional plant breeding techniques to great effect.

The CRC for Tropical Plant Protection completes its final year of funding in June this year; however, the more than 50 genetic markers identified at the Centre for improved yield and disease resistance in lucerne will be used in future breeding programs.