Scientists working on wheat research have discovered a combination of Genes
that provide resistance to the significant fungal disease Stagonospora
nodorum blotch (SNB) in Western Australian varieties.

SNB costs Western Australian growers about $108 million per year due to leaf
death and reduced grain fill - particularly in high rainfall areas and wet
years.

Senior research officer Michael Francki said "We have found two or three
genes from different wheat donors, when crossed with Australian lines and
selected using DNA markers, expressed good levels of resistance to SNB at
Northam and Katanning," he said. He added that if all goes well, new
varieties with improved SNB resistance could be included in National Variety
Trials in four or five years' time.

[www.agric.wa.gov.au]
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