Fleet Base West Carpark Works, WA

2026-11-03

Head loss in barley is a significant challenge, resulting in yield reductions of around 5% to 10% in moderately susceptible cultivars in areas prone to harvest delays, such as Southern Western Australia, with losses potentially reaching up to 50% in extreme cases. GRDC seeks to co-invest in a small-medium scale, four-year initiative aimed at delivering breeder-ready genetic selection tools, knowledge, and germplasm to support the development of barley varieties with greater resistance to head loss. Building on preliminary research and methodologies from existing GRDC-supported pilot studies, this project will refine, validate, and deploy rapid laboratory and field phenotyping methods that integrate mechanical strength measurements of the barley peduncle with detailed anatomical and chemical trait assessments, including wall thickness and lignin content. The project will be required to enhance existing knowledge and understanding of physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying barley head retention. This includes validation of key quantitative trait loci (QTL) across diverse environments to ensure stability and robust applicability. Additionally, it will deliver genomic selection resources such as molecular markers, genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs), and genomic selection models along with improved germplasm containing beneficial alleles. These outputs will support effective breeder decisions and enable selection of barley varieties with superior head retention.

Australia

2026-02-01