LMA Project A – Improved phenotyping for Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) susceptibility in wheat

Background

Falling number (FN) is a global industry standard used to quantify detrimental pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat, as early release from seed dormancy leads to significant effects on end product quality. However, a low Falling Number can also be caused by the trait of Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA), with some wheats having a genetic predisposition to accumulate low levels of starch digesting enzymes during grain filling in the absence of sprouting. LMA susceptibility is currently a classification criterion for milling wheat in Australia.

Due to the cost involved in the current LMA susceptibility screen, it is currently employed at a late phase in the breeding pathway of Australian wheat breeding programs, which significantly restricts genetic gains for yield and other traits in Australian wheat varieties.

Investment description

This investment is one of three interrelated investments aimed at managing and eliminating the effect of Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) in wheat through improved phenotyping and modelling: PROC-9176016 LMA Project A – Improved phenotyping for Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) susceptibility in wheat; PROC-9176017 LMA Project B – A novel high-throughput, low-cost test to determine cause of starch damage in wheat grain; and LMA Project C – An improved model of Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) field risk in Australian wheat.

This procurement focusses on the development of an innovative LMA susceptibility screening methodology that has increased throughput, scalability, repeatability and significantly reduced costs in comparison to the current benchmark assay.

It is expected that the successful applicant will propose a multi-disciplinary approach with potential inputs from fields such as phenomics, molecular biology, biometrics, plant physiology, plant breeding and genetics. Innovative solutions may also borrow from other disciplines such as robotics, medical sciences, mathematics and engineering.

The successful applicant will be expected to actively engage with industry stakeholders (Australian wheat breeding companies and Wheat Quality Australia) as well as the successful applicant of ‘LMA Project C – An improved model of Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) field risk in Australian wheat’.

Expected Outcome

By 2030, Late Maturity alpha-Amylase (LMA) risk is managed within the Australian wheat industry as to maximise genetic gains and minimise downgrades to improve enduring profitability for Australian growers.

Intermediate Outcome

By 2023, Australian industry will have access to accurate, high-throughput screening tools for LMA expression that are employable early in breeding programs, research programs and applicable to a more cost effective, higher throughput LMA classification screen; growers will have the ability to determine starch damage of grain on-farm; and the industry as a whole will have access to accurate field risk profiles of LMA to inform decision making.

This will be achieved through the three interrelated investments.

Expected Output

Output 1

By 2023, an improved LMA susceptibility screening methodology with increased throughput, scalability, repeatability and decrease cost in comparison to the current benchmark assay.

Contracting

The investment will be contracted on a GRDC Standard Research Agreement (Two Party).

Full details here:

https://grdc.com.au/research/applying-and-reporting/current-procurement/open-tenders/lma-project-a-improved-phenotyping-for-late-maturity-alpha-amylase-lma-susceptibility-in-wheat/