Barley

Researchers are taking to the skies to help see what is happening underground in a new project that aims to improve one of Australia’s largest grain crops - barley.

Researchers from QAAFI at The University of Queensland have discovered that a key gene which controls flowering time in wheat and barley crops also directs the plant’s root growth.

Crop improvement rates are lagging behind expected growth in demand, but a UQ innovation is set to make it easier to close the gap.