New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture

谷物硬度（质地）的特性对澳大利亚的基础设施具有重要意义，因为硬小麦的出口平均每年为国民经济贡献超过50亿美元，而且硬小麦对国内使用也很重要。负责谷物质地的基因也赋予对细菌和真菌病原体的抵抗力，这些病原体会造成广泛的损害。然而，澳大利亚基因库在籽粒结构方面的遗传多样性非常有限，因此可能在病原体抗性方面。该项目将研究出这两种性状背后的科学原理，并鉴定出质地和抗病性新变种的品种，从而极大地造福于国家基础设施和地方第一产业。

The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. However, the Australian gene pool has very limited genetic diversity in grain textures and thus possibly in pathogen resistance. The project will work out the science behind these two traits and identify lines with new variants of textures and pathogen resistances, thus greatly benefiting the national infrastructure and local primary industries.