Investment

The objectives of this national project are to investigate the genetic control of important traits of wheat and barley and provide genetic knowledge and DNA markers that can be used in germplasm development and breeding. The key research activities in this project are development and genotyping of mapping populations, evaluation of target traits (mostly biotic stress traits), statistical analyses to map genes, and the design and testing of new DNA marker assays. This project collaborates with trait-specific projects and initiatives and provides national leadership on genetic analysis and marker-assisted cereal improvement. Project outputs will be used by breeders to develop varieties with the combinations of traits that will be needed in future markets and environments, and by pre-breeding researchers to accelerate the development of germplasm that feeds into breeding programs.