The Department of Agriculture’s links with international plant breeding researchers is helping to develop Western Australia (WA) crop varieties to be among the best in the world.

Department researcher Michael Francki will attend the Plant and Animal Genome Conference in San Diego next month to enhance the Department’s expertise in applying molecular markers to plant breeding and improvement.

As a guest presenter, Dr Francki will highlight the Department’s leading work in the alignment of the wheat and rice genomes and its application to cereal breeding.

He will also present recent developments from the International Genome Research on Wheat (IGROW), a collaboration between research organisations to sequence the wheat genome.

Dr Francki said the conference would review the latest technologies, international projects and outcomes of research organisations involved in plant genome anlaysis and genomics.

“Most importantly, the opportunity exists to discuss and develop research projects with international researchers, particularly in the area of molecular marker development,” Dr Francki said.

“The Department of Agriculture will be able to access the latest molecular marker technology and research ideas that will benefit WA cereal research programs and ultimately our cropping industries.

“This will significantly enhance the efficiency of the Department’s current research projects for disease resistance, quality attributes and abiotic stresses.”

Dr Francki was also set to discuss outcomes and future research activities with the US collaborators on the development of WA wheat germplasm with resistance to diseases and pests not currently in WA but pose a significant future threat, including hessian fly, sawfly and Fusarium.

Following the conference Dr Francki will travel to North Dakota State University and finalise arrangements for a joint project with the Value Added Wheat Co-operative Research Centre to develop germplasm that is resistant to exotic pests and diseases.