Sydney hosts plant genomics workshop

Australias top agricultural geneticists will meet tomorrow in Sydney to examine progress in unlocking the secret of plant genetics, debate the outcomes and plan future research directions.

Around 20 NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre (NSWAGC) researchers will gather in Sydney on 8 October for a genomics workshop.

NSWAGC is a joint venture between Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW), CSIRO Plant Industry and the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), funded largely by the NSW Governments $5 million BioFirst initiative.

"I&I NSW scientists Dr Peter Martin, Dr Andrew Milgate, Dr Harsh Raman and Dr Andrew MItchell will be joined by colleagues from around Australia for the workshop," I&I NSW farming systems research leader and workshop organiser, John Oliver, said.

"The workshop brings together some of the finest Australian researchers working in this highly specialised field, including Professor Peter Langridge from ACPFG and Dr Liz Dennis from CSIRO Plant Industry."

Mr Oliver said genomics is now an essential component of plant science research that is helping develop more productive and better quality crops.

"Investigating how genes operate and their relationship with key traits of interest to plant breeders, growers and end users can lead to the development of better varieties of important agricultural crops such as wheat and canola," he said.

"Understanding how plants cope with adverse climate conditions such as the prolonged drought, could lead to high quality varieties that are more productive in times of less water and warmer temperatures.

"Already a number of wheat varieties have been identified that have greater yield stability under contrasting rain-fed and irrigated environments and we are a step closer to understanding the switches in canola that lead to flowering.

"We are also working on developing a DNA-based diagnostic system for pests and diseases so that agricultural ecosystems and biosecurity can be more effectively managed.

"DNA barcoding for four insect species have already helped clarify the taxonomy of the Orosius leafhoppers."

Media contact: Tom Braz 0428 256 596