DAS00154 - White grain disorder in wheat
Project Summary
White grain disorder (WGD) was first recorded in Australia in 1999 in Queensland and since that time has been identified in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. In 2010/11 in Queensland, losses due to WGD were estimated to be $100 m as a result of both direct yield loss and downgraded grain. In 2010/11 and 2011/12, WGD caused rejection and downgrading of a significant number of grain loads at receival points in South Australia.
The symptoms associated with WGD in wheat in Australia are similar in some respects to those produced by Fusarium head blight (FHB). This has resulted in concerns that white grain may be perceived to contain toxins and that this may have an impact on Australia's grain export markets. These concerns have persisted in the Southern Region despite strong evidence suggesting that WGD is not associated with toxins or grain quality concerns. It is also expected that grain marketers and importing countries could downgrade or not buy infected grain due to this similarity in the visual symptoms produce by FHB and WGD.
Varietal resistance is potentially one of the key management options for WGD, however field screening trials do not reliably develop WGD symptoms as expression of WGD is dependent on above average rainfall and high humidity conditions during flowering and grain fill.
This project aims to develop an efficient and reliable screening methodology based on artificial inoculation under controlled conditions.
← Return to the Project Summaries list
Was this page helpful?
YOUR FEEDBACK