The Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) has helped develop improved screening protocols for the LMA defect in wheat breeding lines, increasing throughput and streamlining the delivery of improved wheat varieties.
Late Maturity α-Amylase (LMA) is a serious defect in milling wheat varieties, and all new breeding lines must be submitted to the national LMA screen which APPN operates. In parallel to running the commercial screen, APPN, in collaboration with a range of partners, carried out research to improve the LMA screening process.
Why
Previous screening protocols were considered low-throughout, labour intensive and costly. The GRDC-funded research sought to streamline screening protocols.
Outcomes
Based on project results, overall labour and time requirements were greatly reduced for a single screen. Due to these improved time and labour requirements, the screening capacity of APPN has also doubled.
Impact
The research to improve LMA screening protocols means lower cost and higher throughput screening can now be offered, and breeders can remove LMA-sensitive lines sooner from their breeding programs.
Improved screening protocols will also continue to mitigate the negative impact of wheat deliveries failing Falling Number tests (due to the presence of LMA) on farm profitability.
