The trial was approved by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and
will be funded by the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre .
Wheat lines that have been developed and assessed under laboratory and
containment glasshouse facilities will now be trialled in the field.
The purpose of the trial is to conduct ‘proof of concept’ research to
evaluate the agronomic performance, including yield, of the GM wheat lines under
rain-fed, drought prone conditions.
Seed will also be collected and retained for seed increase or further
experimentation (subject to additional approvals).
Up to 30 GM wheat lines will be trialled. Each wheat line contains one of six
different genes for drought tolerance derived from the plants maize (Zea mays)
and thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), a moss (Physcomitrella patens) and a
yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
The Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre is funding the
trials and hopes to have the wheat breeds ready for commercial use with five to
seven years.
Related links:
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre
Related links:
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre
Mail a friend
Print
