June 18, 2007

Australia approves first field trial of genetically-modified wheat

The government of Australia has approved the first field trial of genetically-modified (GM) wheat for drought tolerance and two-drought prone sites in the state of Victoria.

The approval of the trial was courtesy of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and will be funded by the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre.

Developed and analyzed wheat lines under laboratory and containment glasshouse facilities will now be tested 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 tested with each wheat line containing one of six different genes for drought tolerance derived from the plants corn (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.