August 30, 2005

Australia creates new high-yielding, rust-resistant wheat variety

Western Australia's Department of Agriculture have developed a new high-yielding, rust-resistant soft wheat called Bullaring.

Bullaring, together with EGA 2248 last year and EGA Jitarning, is expected to boost the local soft wheat industry by offering varieties with competitive yields, said the department's director General Ian Longson.

This new wheat is suitable for all soft-wheat growing areas and is only slightly lower yielding than EGA 2248.

It is also resistant to stem rust, Western Australia races of leaf rust and stripe rust, and has the best combination of disease resistances among Australian soft varieties. It has moderate resistance to septoria tritici blotch.

Bullaring was cultivated by the department's plant breeder Robyn McLean and Western Australia's wheat breeding team. It is protected by Plant Breeders Rights and is subject to a Crop Improvement Royalty.