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May, 2007
Source: FAO-BiotechNews -
May 2007
Fusarium head blight and
Fusarium crown rot are important threats to sustainable wheat
and barley production worldwide. Efforts to combat these
diseases have been increasing around the world throughout
numerous countries and research communities.
On 14-17 March
2006, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
(CIMMYT), with support from the Government of Japan, organised a
strategic planning workshop in El Batán, Mexico, to highlight
the importance of diseases caused by the Fusarium fungus; the
status of collaborative efforts to address these diseases; and
future prospects for international collaboration.
Proceedings of
the meeting, edited by T. Ban, J.M. Lewis and E.E. Phipps,
include several research papers on the use of molecular markers
in breeding for disease resistance and are now available on the
web.
See
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/docs/proceedings/fusarium06.pdf
(2.1 MB) or contact
lvillasenor@cgiar.org for more information.
Other news
from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
(CIMMYT)
Source:
Grains Research & Development
Corporation (GRDC)
GRDC is investing $10
million over the next five years in the Australian Centre for
Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) to help researchers uncover
unique characteristics that allow wheat and barley to cope with
extreme environmental conditions, including drought, salinity
and frost.
The Centre is developing genetic marker tools to increase the
efficiency and speed of new and improved wheat and barley
variety development.
ACPFG, supported by the GRDC and the Australian Research
Council, undertakes vital research into plant stresses.
Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop and
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, Sussan Ley, recently announced an
additional $11 million investment over five years in the ACPFG.
More information: www.arc.gov.au
or www.grdc.com.au
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