For 20 years the National Variety Trials data and resources have been exploited for a range of innovative purposes, including the development of classification frameworks that provide growers with a marketing edge
Jen Lillecrapp is tapping into historic National Variety Trials (NVT) data for a truly innovative purpose.
She is interrogating NVT data related to pulse quality traits to develop frameworks to classify Australian pulse varieties based on the quality requirements of markets and end-uses.
This work, a GRDC initiative, is being undertaken at Grains Australia. In addition to classification, functions include trade and market access, market insights and market education. Ms Lillecrapp is the initiative’s classification and technical officer – pulses.
“The classification systems we are developing already exist for wheat and barley,” Ms Lillecrapp says. “These systems classify varieties in terms of genetic quality traits for specific end-uses, such as malting or pasta-making. We are now working on similar systems for pulses and Grains Australia has recently implemented a system for oats.”
Classification systems help group varieties that have genetic quality traits for specific enduses, such as malting or pasta-making. Work on pulses is underway. Photo: Paul Jones
The NVT dataset is unique in its ability to support this kind of research and development work for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the data is independent and generated across numerous environments and seasons using robust and consistent methods. Secondly, the trials provide a side-by-side comparison of varieties and lines from breeding programs and companies.
“This enables us to assess if there is a strong and consistent genetic effect or if there is genotype by environment interaction that influences the expression of specific grain quality characteristics,” Ms Lillecrapp says.
“That’s important because a classification system needs to be based on a variety’s genetic propensity to produce a particular quality trait, such as seed size, which is important for many end-uses and markets for pulses.”
Varietal classification provides major industry benefits, such as:
- ensuring growers, traders and customers understand the genetic qualities of varieties;
- allowing for differentiation based on genetic qualities of varieties; and
- conveying market signals to breeders.
Resource sharing
To access the historical NVT data, Grains Australia entered into a ‘sharing agreement’ with GRDC. The data was then extracted, sorted and provided to Grains Australia.
“This resource sharing means we can use the data to build pulse classification systems based on quality characteristics that will deliver value for growers, the wider grains industry supply chain and our customers,” Ms Lillecrapp says.
The Resource Sharing Program has supported more than 100 research projects since its inception in 2022.
Research Seed Multiplication
Alongside the normal variety trials, the NVT system also runs a seed bulk-up program. The Research Seed Multiplication (RSM) program grows all the commercial varieties at a single point of origin to reduce variability. This seed is then made available to all GRDC researchers who need access to consistent seed of varieties within their trials.
It produces about 22 tonnes of seed for over 240 commercial winter crop varieties.
This system eliminates variability in research work by ensuring consistent, high-quality seed while creating larger economies of scale and reducing duplication of resources.
Every November, the head of the RSM program sends out an expression of interest to all GRDC researchers and provides a list of the varieties in the bulk-up program. Researchers can then request a certain amount of seed for their trials.
Resources for research
NVT resource sharing has been used in many GRDC investments.
This includes for example the ‘Analysis of herbicide loss on grain cropping in Australia using the NVT yield data to inform assumptions of yield potential’ project.
CSIRO’s Dr Rick Llewellyn is making use of a bespoke dataset from NVT seasons 2014–22 for all regions.
Another example is found in Dr Dean Diepeveen’s work at DPIRD. He has been using wheat, barley and canola mean yield and trial location data in a project called ‘Review of WA agzones as climate and farming practices have changed, which alter the boundaries of the zones’.
Resources:
National Variety Trials