Promising salinity tests at SABC

GRAIN Biotech Australia’s latest step in the race to develop salt tolerant wheat varieties is showing signs of success under the guidance of researcher Dr Scott McNeil.

Dr McNeil’s new crop is flourishing in vats of salty water at the State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University.

This test crop is modified with three genes that enable the plants to take up water despite the harsh environmental conditions, and the plants currently have 30 per cent more stalks and seed heads than traditional wheat varieties in these conditions.

‘At least 4.4 million hectares of Western Australia are affected by salinity, whichhas left our farmers working at the edge of return on investment farming at the mercy of the environment,’ said Murdoch’s Executive Research Strategist, Professor Val Alder.

‘If trials are successful with a high seed count for this new wheat variety, this may pave the way for many farmers to put land back into production.