From ancient, ‘gassy’ legume to low-carbon, nutritional powerhouse, mungbeans are being given a global makeover, led by researchers at The University of Queensland.
A new $11.6 million, five-and-a-half-year joint investment is aiming to address lodging in sorghum – an issue that is consistently rated as the most significant concern facing Australian sorghum growers and costing on average $12 million worth in yield loss annually.
Damian Hine plans to build a bridge – a crossing that joins the experience, capacity and potential of Australian agriculture with the national and global investment needed to take Australian farming to new levels of productivity, sustainability, diversity and value.
A massive international research effort has led to development of a genetic model for the ‘ultimate’ chickpea, with the potential to lift crop yields by up to 12 per cent.
The tropical root vegetable taro, known as the ‘food of the gods’ in the Pacific, is under threat from rising sea levels but wild Australian plants being cultivated by The University of Queensland may help boost food security in the region.
The hot and dry desert environment has led to big genetic differences between male and female jojoba plants, a discovery which could boost jojoba production and shed light on how plants adapt to environmental stress.
Researchers at The University of Queensland are optimistic the value and versatility of one of the world’s top crops will be improved following the discovery of genes which could increase the grain size of sorghum.
