Durum Breeding Programme

Dr Tony Rathjen

The durum breeding program at the Waite Institute was founded in 1989 and since 1990 has involved an informal partnership between the University of Adelaide, SA Durum Growers Association and San Remo Macaroni Pty Ltd. The funding in early years was primarily through University of Adelaide sources, particularly Postgraduate Students who investigated a range of problems including tolerance to B, HCO3-, Al and Na toxicities, Mn and Zn deficiencies, resistance to Pratylenchus neglectus and Crown Rot, and the quality characteristics of lutein concentration and glutenin composition. San Remo also helped to fund some of these projects.

Financial support from the GRDC started in 1996 and during 2002-6, a contract with AGT to provide breeding services.

Production expanded dramatically from the 20t of seed bought in 1990 to over 350,000t in 2001, but has since declined to ~150,000t in a normal year. Local consumption is about 100,000t and expanding. The major factor in the decline in production has been the fear of Crown Rot, but inadequate financial advice based on early AWB projections has been a factor. However for many growers, especially in the Northern Mt Lofty Ranges, durum has had the highest average gross margins and often out-yields bread wheat.

During the period, three varieties, Tamaroi, Gundaroi and Kalka, have been released. Kalka is a major step forward in quality, especially in intensity of colour at a similar level to NSW varieties and in superior cooking attributes. Hence the inherent grain quality is now more than suitable for international markets.

Major Breeding objectives

Crown Rot resistance:

Local durum varieties are highly susceptible to Fusarium pseudograminearum which is exacerbated by stubble retention, high levels of cereal cropping in current rotations and zinc deficiency. Varietal reactions are confounded by the timing of water stress, presence of F. culmorum, soil type and the complexity of the genetics for resistance. Nevertheless, some advanced lines are substantially less susceptible to this disease.

Adaptation:

The current varieties are well adapted to the Blanchetown ‘Formation’, loams and clay-loams of the Northern Mt. Lofty Ranges but poorly adapted to the loess derived, calcium carbonate rich, Woorenin Formation and especially the recently reworked, siliceous Molineux sands.

Quality:

With the release of the variety Kalka, the level of xanthophyll (yellow pigment) is no longer an issue, so the major emphasis is on cooking quality, especially stickiness of the pasta.

Breeding Technology

The breeding strategy follows, broadly, the F2 progeny method with emphasis on selection for grain yield in farming conditions. These trials are grown at 12 edaphically and agriculturally diverse locations allowing selection for an integrated adaptation of new varieties, not only for major defined attributes, but also for factors such as heat tolerance at anthesis, non-protruding embryo and the less important pests and diseases.

Diversity in parental genetics and short generation intervals are integral to the program.

Associated research topics

Boron tolerance:

This was first identified in a Chinese durum variety and its genetic control elucidated, along with the genetics of other sources.

Salinity tolerance:

In conjunction with Dr R Munns (CSIRO, Canberra) and Dr M Tester (ACPFG), yield trials comparing Na excluding and non-excluding genotypes have been conducted over several locations, usually with high levels of transient salinity, and several years. It has been thought that Na exclusion could be a major factor in adaptation to Australian soils where high levels of Na are often present.

pH tolerance:

The genetics of tolerance to high pH subsoils (HCO3- and CO3--) and the effect of tolerance on grain yield are being studied.

Resistance to Pratylenchus neglectus. Defining sources of resistance, the genetics of resistance and incorporation of resistance into breeding material are in progress.

Varieties

Tamaroi and Gundaroi were Waite Institute selections from breeding material from Dr R Hare of NSW Department of Agriculture. These have been instrumental in establishing the Durum industry in southern Australia.
Kalka, a recent release (2003) which has better quality than Tamaroi and tolerance to high levels of soil boron, is in the process of being adopted by farmers.
Other lines both from the AGT and the Waite program are being multiplied.

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