Northern Australia Rice – Developing varieties with agronomic integrity/market

Summary

NSW DPI priorities to this project are 1) Determine most likely varietal candidates based on agronomic and grain quality parameters for the four aspirational variety types 2) Ensure adequate pure/clean seed is available biyearly in quantities to service multisite/season varietal evaluation, disease nurseries and seed multiplication to tonnage where required. 3) Continue with the effective quality evaluation program (QEP) which will allow proactive selection for the four aspirational variety types prior to entry into multisite evaluation (Note: the QEP analysis of the northern advanced lines has been carried out over the past three years and it is imperative for the integrity of the data already collected and analysed that the Wagga Wagga QEP milling continues and the Yanco QEP analysis supports. This is the most effective and efficient way to have data to the rice breeders in the form required. Changing process with another lab and different operators will damage the integrity of the data used over multi season and multi sites. 4) Identify prominent target environments (location by season) for which aspirational variety types are most likely to be adopted by growers and encouraged by industry markets. 5) Ensure Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) are obtained from IP Australia prior to the commercialisation of any varieties develop through this project. NSW DPI is in the best position to conduct this requirement as it is core business of the rice breeding group. 6) Adapted prebreeding (molecular) activities at Yanco to incorporate multiple resistance to pest and pathogens identified as economical significant for northern production. NSW DPI has correct research officers to conduct this role and the alignment with the molecular ARP2 will be useful and reduce the total cost to this project.

Program

Northern Rice

Research Organisation

(DPIE) The Crown in right of the State of NSW acting through the DPI within the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Objective Summary

The objective of this project is to develop for release tailored rice varieties that are both productive on a gross margin basis for northern Australian rice growers and lucrative as a milled whole grain commodity to satisfy growing global demand.