Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre

SummaryRapid prediction and control of flowering time is essential for breeding crops resilient to changing climates. Current models often fail to predict flowering time in new cultivars because molecular models lack integration of environmental signals, while physiological models inadequately capture the interactions of vernalization, photoperiod and temperature. This leads to mischaracterized genotypes and inaccurate forecasts.A new Cereal Anthesis Molecular Phenology (CAMP) model was developed for wheat. It explicitly integrates the regulatory roles of three major ‘virtual’ flowering genes (Vrn1, Vrn2, and Vrn3) with environmental cues. A novel phenotyping strategy based on main stem leaf number was introduced to shorten the time required for data collection and model calibration.CAMP predicted flowering time within 4–7 d across 64 genetically diverse wheat cultivars grown under contrasting environments. The leaf‐number phenotyping method reduced phenotyping time by more than 80%, offering a practical alternative to resource‐intensive field trials. Together, these advances enable accurate cultivar characterization and scalable prediction of flowering behaviour.CAMP enables the ability to predict flowering time directly from genotypic data (e.g. SNPs), eliminating the need for costly controlled‐environment experiments. This represents a step change in molecular–physiological modelling, supporting faster deployment of new cultivars and more effective design of wheat for future climates.

Background: Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a life‐threatening condition that has been associated with antipsychotic medications. The antipsychotic medication clozapine has had emerging evidence highlighting its association with the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the absence of any other risk factors being present. Case Summary: We report two cases of severe bilateral PE in a 46‐year‐old and 49‐year‐old man receiving clozapine treatment and fluvoxamine augmentation for psychotic spectrum disorders. These patients had no pre‐existing risk factors for VTE and were at different stages of clozapine titration and treatment. Both patients made full cardiac and respiratory recovery despite the severity of their VTE and were treated with anticoagulant therapy. Conclusion: Clozapine is becoming increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for VTE which can be a life‐threatening complication for patients. Diagnosing PE can be challenging due to the general cardiac side effects of clozapine, such as tachycardia and hypotension, highlighting the importance for psychiatrists to be vigilant in considering PE in their patients. Further evidence around the benefits of prophylaxis and risk stratification for VTE in patients on antipsychotic medications may further assist in the prevention of VTE in patients.

Abstract Seed genebanks must maintain collections of healthy seeds and regenerate accessions before seed viability declines. Seed shelf life is often characterized at the species level; however, large, unexplained variation among genetic lines within a species can and does occur. This variation contributes to unreliable predictions of seed quality decline with storage time. To assess variation of seed longevity and aid in timing regeneration, ten varieties of pea (Pisum sativum L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) from the Australian Grains Genebank were stored at moderate temperature (20°C) and moisture (7–11% water, relative humidity [RH] ~30%) and deterioration was assessed by yearly germination tests for 20 years. Decline in germination was fit to a sigmoidal model and the time corresponding to 50% germination (P50) was used to express seed longevity for each genetic line. The feasibility of using RNA fragmentation to assess changed seed health was measured using RNA integrity number (RIN) from RNA extracted from seeds that were stored for 13 and 20 years. Seed lots of legume grains that maintained high survival throughout the 20 years (i.e. they aged slower than other lines) had higher RIN than samples that degraded faster. RIN was lower in embryonic axes compared with cotyledons in the more deteriorated samples, perhaps indicating that axes exhibit symptoms of ageing sooner than cotyledons. Overall, RIN appears to be associated with longevity indicators of germination for these legumes and indicating that RIN decline can be used to assess ageing rate, which is needed to optimize viability monitoring.

Abstract The trade‐off between accuracy and complexity is a common issue faced in farm systems analysis. To provide insights into the importance of representing weather‐year sequence in farm modelling, two whole‐farm optimisation models are constructed and applied to a mixed enterprise farming system in a subregion of Western Australia. The frameworks are (i) four‐stage single‐sequence stochastic programming with recourse (4‐SPR) to capture weather‐year variation and management tactics tailored to each weather‐year and (ii) eight‐stage multi‐sequence stochastic programming with recourse (8‐SPR) to outline weather‐year sequences and management tactics tailored to particular weather‐year sequences. Results show that single‐year stochastic programming generates similar expected profit and strategic management as multi‐year stochastic programming. However, optimal tactical farm management is affected by the outcome of the previous year. Tactical decision‐making in response to the outcome of the preceding weather‐year increases profitability by 14%. Technology changes over the last decade, particularly the increase in computer speed and computational power, increase the ease of construction and application of the 4‐SPR and 8‐SPR frameworks. Nonetheless, choosing which framework is best to apply to a particular issue or opportunity remains a challenge.

In cereal species, seed and grain size is influenced by growth of the ovule integuments (seed coat), the spikelet hull (lemma and palea) and the filial endosperm. It has remained unclear whether a highly conserved ovule tissue, the nucellus, has any impact on grain size. Immunolabelling revealed that the barley nucellus comprises two distinct cell types that differ in terms of cell wall homogalacturonan (HG) accumulation. Transcriptional profiling of the nucellus identified two pectin methylesterase genes, OVULE PECTIN MODIFIER 1 (OPM1) and OPM2, which are expressed in the ovule but absent from the seed. Ovules from an opm1 opm2 mutant, and plants expressing an ovule-specific pectin methylesterase inhibitor (PMEI), exhibit reduced HG accumulation. This results in changes to ovule cell size and shape, and ovules that are longer than wild-type controls. At grain maturity, this is manifested as significantly longer grain. These findings indicate that cell wall composition during ovule development acts to limit ovule and seed growth. The investigation of ovule PME and PMEI activity reveals an unexpected role of maternal tissues in controlling grain growth prior to fertilisation, one that has been lacking from models exploring improvements in grain size.

Genetically diverse plant germplasm stored in ex-situ genebanks are excellent resources for breeding new high yielding and sustainable crop varieties to ensure future food security. Novel alleles have been discovered through routine genebank activities such as seed regeneration and characterization, with subsequent utilization providing significant genetic gains and improvements for the selection of favorable traits, including yield, biotic, and abiotic resistance. Although some genebanks have implemented cost-effective genotyping technologies through advances in DNA technology, the adoption of modern phenotyping is lagging. The introduction of advanced phenotyping technologies in recent decades has provided genebank scientists with time and cost-effective screening tools to obtain valuable phenotypic data for more traits on large germplasm collections during routine activities. The utilization of these phenotyping tools, coupled with high-throughput genotyping, will accelerate the use of genetic resources and fast-track the development of more resilient food crops for the future. In this review, we highlight current digital phenotyping methods that can capture traits during annual seed regeneration to enrich genebank phenotypic datasets. Next, we describe strategies for the collection and use of phenotypic data of specific traits for downstream research using high-throughput phenotyping technology. Finally, we examine the challenges and future perspectives of genebank phenomics.

Abstract There is growing interest in pulses such as faba bean for the development of foods with enhanced nutrition, functionality, and health benefits. In this study, seed material from 10 faba bean varieties, grown in replicated field trials in South Australia over consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017), were analysed for ferric reducing antioxidant potential, total phenolics, and total monomeric anthocyanins. Differences in the macrochemical composition of varieties was investigated using attenuated total reflectance mid‐infrared spectroscopy. The mean ferric reducing antioxidant potential of the varieties ranged from 237 to 531 mg trolox equivalents 100 g−1; the total phenolics from 258 to 571 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1; and the total monomeric anthocyanins from 12.7 to 21.0 mg cyanidin‐3‐glucoside equivalents 100 g−1. Statistically significant variances in all three measures were found between varieties. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed mid‐infrared spectroscopy was found to provide a rapid assessment of the phytochemical composition of the samples. Partial least squares discriminant analysis was able to classify samples by growing year with reasonable accuracy (>87%). There is significant variation in the antioxidant, phenolic, and anthocyanin contents between Australian faba bean varieties. Mid‐infrared spectroscopy may prove to be a valuable screening tool for breeders and researchers in the future.

This investigation presents a holistic and comprehensive assessment of the stepwise changes in barley quality during the malting process for multiple batches of two Australian malting varieties (Buloke and Gairdner), in two modern, commercial scale pneumatic malthouses. The study sought to analyse and compare malting plant and variety with respect to basic changes in malt quality for protein (total protein and free amino nitrogen), fermentability (apparent attenuation limit and diastatic power), extract yield, along with filtration indicators (lautering efficiency, viscosity and β-glucan). Overall, comparing the two malt plants, it was observed that although malt batches and varieties followed different malting pathways, the finished and kilned malt was of satisfactory quality in terms of FAN, viscosity, friability, fermentability and extract. © 2020 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling