November 7, 2002

The idea to grow durum wheat on saline soils is not far from coming to fruition, according to Dr Ray Hare, who heads the NSW Agriculture/Enterprise Grains Australia durum wheat breeding program at Tamworth.

The joint venture has commercially released the new variety EGA Bellaroi, with outstanding pasta making quality, high yield and generally good, all round disease resistance.

Dr Hare says Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CSIRO) researchers have found a molecular marker for at least one of the key sodium exclusion genes. It has been confirmed and advanced breeding lines with this gene have been produced and are awaiting field testing, which has been delayed by drought.

"If all goes as well with the field trials as I expect, we will push for their release in about three years. That¹s not far off for wheat breeding," Dr Hare said.