Recent success identifying frost tolerance in barley has renewed optimism for developing frost tolerant wheat varieties.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has budgeted $750,000 over three years to support a national project implementing those barley screening protocols for the identification of frost tolerant wheats.

The key screening targets will include synthetic wheat varieties from CIMMYT and exotic germplasm from cool regions of the Middle East, Asia and North America.

Yield damage caused by frost costs Western Australi an average of $5 million per year.