June 10, 2003

CSIRO Plant Industry scientists started replanting research trials on 4 June following lifting of a
quarantine order imposed after the discovery of the Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) at its
Canberra facilities.

“We have wasted no time in resuming our cereal planting and research now that the quarantine
is lifted,” says Dr TJ Higgins, Assistant Chief CSIRO Plant Industry.

The lifting of the quarantine has proved most timely for the high rainfall zone wheat breeding
program that is focused on breeding high yielding feed wheats and high milling quality wheats.

“The latest time for planting these wheats ends in early June, which means we will have time to
plant these trials this season and get a whole year’s worth of research,” says Dr Higgins.

“We can plant our field sites immediately at Ginninderra Experiment Station in the ACT and
resume our glasshouse research.”

Another research project CSIRO Plant Industry will be resuming is reducing wheat screenings or
small wheat grains for which growers are penalised. This should result in larger, plumper grain to
ensure better returns.

“We will now plant trials to identify wheat lines that store higher levels of carbohydrates in
their stem which is associated with reduced screenings,” says Dr Higgins.

Plants with higher levels of carbohydrates in their stem also help protect the plant from drought
and haying-off – when the wheat dries prematurely before harvesting.

“We are looking forward to resuming our cereal based research and getting back on track to
provide new varieties and practical outcomes for grain growers again,” says Dr Higgins.

For on more information on WSMV please visit www.affa.gov.au.