Expediting the delivery to industry of a novel method of eliminating LMA (OD224186)

Falling Number (FN) is used as the international standard for determining pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat grain, however the trait of Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) also causes low falling number. LMA is currently not prevalent in Australian milling wheats due to WQA classification standards. However, due to the difficulty in selecting for LMA resistant wheats, this process results in breeders discarding a large proportion of genetic diversity that could be used to improve the rate of genetic gain for yield and other traits. Recent investment by GRDC and CSIRO has identified genetic deletions of key genes in the LMA pathway, providing an easy way that breeders could protect against LMA in their programs. This project will undertake validation of these mutants and ensure the trait is combined with appropriate agronomic performance and grain quality to expedite the use of the invention by breeders.