CSIRO has developed a new dual-purpose wheat variety designed to give Western Australian growers more options following crop damage from extreme weather events such as heat and frost.
The high-yielding Hurdle wheat variety is the result of a decade of breeding work and can be used for grazing, hay or grain, according to CSIRO.
It noted the variety is due to be showcased to growers at a field walk in Western Australia this week ahead of its commercial release through LongReach Plant Breeders.
CSIRO Chief Research Scientist Dr Greg Rebetzke, who led the breeding team, said the variety was developed in response to challenges faced by growers.
“This new wheat was developed in response to the challenges of climate change experienced by growers,” Dr Rebetzke said.
He said the dual-purpose characteristics could provide growers with alternatives when weather affects grain production.
“This new dual-purpose wheat, if it is affected by extreme weather, will offer growers a choice of grazing or cutting for hay or can be sold for grain,” Dr Rebetzke said.
The development followed a 2016 visit to the Lake Grace region by Dr Rebetzke and members of the Grain Research and Development Corporation’s Western Panel, following significant frost damage to wheat crops.
Former grain farmer and former GRDC Western Panel Chair Peter Roberts, who was also involved in the visit, said growers in parts of Western Australia were increasingly managing the effects of frost and heat.
“Properties like ours in the eastern and southern WA wheatbelt were becoming increasingly prone to frost, so we were being forced to plant later and then have heat affect our crops at the end of the season, leading to reduced yield and quality,” Roberts said.
The work subsequently contributed to the release of the Bale and Dual dual-purpose hay and grain wheat varieties in 2021.
According to CSIRO, Hurdle builds on those varieties with genetic improvements intended to deliver higher yields and larger grain size. It is named after Hurdle Creek in Western Australia, where the initial meeting with growers took place.
“This new higher-yielding variety Hurdle … is a great example of how CSIRO can respond to the needs of industry,” Dr Rebetzke said.
The field walk will be held on 17 September at Tincurrin, Western Australia, with CSIRO, LongReach Plant Breeders, growers, GRDC and industry representatives expected to attend.
