September 24, 2003

Rees, a new drought tolerant wheat variety, was released today by CSIRO joint venture organisation, Graingene.

CSIRO Plant Industry scientist Dr Richard Richards says Rees has an advantage over comparable wheats in dry years, producing about five per cent more grain despite receiving the same rainfall.

"Rees is the second variety to be developed using scientific gene selection criteria based on measuring a plant's carbon isotope signature," Dr Richards says.

"By using the DELTA technique, we are able to breed varieties of wheat that more efficiently exchange atmospheric carbon dioxide for water during photosynthesis," Dr Richards says.

"In addition, Rees has outstanding resistance to the major wheat diseases and excellent yellow alkaline noodle qualities.

"Rees is the second commercial release of a wheat variety from Graingene, a joint venture between AWB Limited, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and CSIRO Plant Industry.

The variety was developed in collaboration with the ANU, the Queensland Department of Primary Industry/Enterprise Grains Australia and is being commercialised and distributed by AWB Seeds.

FACT SHEET

REES FACTS

• White, hard-grained wheat, classified AH in Queensland
• Outstanding grain quality for yellow alkaline noodles
• Transpiration efficient /water use efficient (WUE) therefore drought tolerant
• Intermediate maturity, similar to Cunningham
• Very high tolerance to root lesion nematodes
• Very good resistance to Stem, Leaf and Stripe rusts
• Resistant to lodging

YIELD

Rees has a higher yield than Cunningham, Hartog and Kennedy in Queensland and a higher yield than Sunstate and Sunvale in NSW.

RAINFALL

Rees is best adapted to the low-medium rainfall zones of Queensland and northern NSW where it yields well and produces good-sized grain. Rees has also performed well in the medium rainfall areas of NSW.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

Rees is a semi-dwarf variety of similar height, maturity and chaff colour to Hartog. The low carbon isotope discrimination (high water-use efficiency) of Rees compared to Hartog results in higher yields in drier seasons and regions. Rees has a higher yield when compared with Janz, Hartog, Kennedy and Cunningham in Queensland. In NSW Rees is higher yielding than Sunstate and Sunvale. Rees is resistant to lodging.

GRAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Rees is a hard-grained wheat that will be received into the Australian Hard (AH) segregation in Queensland. It will receive the maximum classification of APW in other states until further quality data is available. Rees has good milling and baking qualities and excellent noodle sheet colour and colour stability.

DISEASE AND PEST RESISTANCE

Rees is resistant to stem, leaf and stripe rust and has resistance and tolerance to root lesion nematode.

PLANT BREEDERS RIGHTS

Rees is protected by Plant Breeder's Rights, any unauthorised commercial propagation or any sale, conditioning, export, import or stocking of propagating material of this variety is an infringement under the Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994.

Growers are allowed to retain seed from production of this variety for their own use as seed only. An end point levy (rate to be confirmed), which includes breeder royalties, applies to this variety.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Rees was bred using a new breeding technology for drought tolerance (carbon isotope discrimination) developed by the Australian National University and CSIRO with support from growers through GRDC. It was bred and selected by Graingene (a joint venture between AWB Ltd, CSIRO, and GRDC) in collaboration with Enterprise Grains Australia, a joint venture between the Department of Agriculture in WA, NSW Agriculture, GRDC and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Rees is available exclusively through AWB Seeds. AWB Grower Services Centre 1800 054 433