‘Game-changer’: GRDC announces $12.7m project for long coleoptile wheat to help sow 10cm deep

It’s the “game-changing” breeding trait that could allow farmers to successfully sow wheat at depths of more than 10cm and capitalise on stored soil moisture to boost yields by up to 20 per cent. And now, long coleoptile wheat could become a feature of farmers’ cropping programs in coming years thanks to a $12.7 million funding boost from the Grains Research Development Corporation. The cash will bankroll a new four-year project to integrate long coleoptile wheat into Australian farming systems, led by science agency CSIRO and WA-based plant geneticist Greg Rebetzke. Among the list of CSIRO’s various partners for this particular project are WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and York-based SLR Agriculture, which recently wrapped up State-based trials on the breeding trait. Dr Rebetzke said the project hoped to mitigate sowing risks for growers and provide greater flexibility around time of sowing, by allowing farmers to sow earlier and up to 10cm deep. “Climatic modelling work using on-farm field and usage trials suggests a 20 per cent increase in yields from long coleoptile varieties,” he said. “That’s because sowing varieties that have the right fit for a farming system ensures crop growth coincides with climatic conditions to which the crop is best suited. “For example, ensuring germination and seedling growth occurs at planting, so varieties flower at the optimal time for which they are bred and avoid those very hot, very dry conditions at the end of the season.” GRDC chair John Woods announced the funding boon on at its Research Updates in Perth this week, saying long coleoptile wheat could be a “game-changer” for farmers in low-to-mid rainfall zones. The project — called Integrating long coleoptile wheat into Australian farming systems through an integrated understanding of genetics, management and environment — is planned to wrap up in 2026. “This project builds on decades of research by CSIRO and previous GRDC investment of approximately $11.5m to introduce new climate-adaptive traits into commercial wheat varieties,” Mr Woods said. “This project addresses identified knowledge gaps around how these genetics perform across contrasting production environments, soils and farming systems, equipping growers with the tools to better respond to changing climates and seasonal variability in their farming systems.” The coleoptile is the protective sheath which encloses the emerging shoot and first leaves. And longer the coleoptile is, the greater the emergence potential when deep sowing. Long coleoptile wheats can be sown at depths of more than 10cm, making use of stored soil moisture. Dr Rebezke said the trials would explore genetic, environmental and management factors and lead to the creation of an industry standard for measuring and defining categories for wheat coleoptile length. With increasing climate and rainfall variability, taking advantage of summer rainfall with early sowing has been attributed with bettering water productivity. “With today’s changing climates, ensuring you’ve adequate moisture for germination in those top 5cm of soil is increasingly risky for growers. Long coleoptile varieties should make this less of an issue into the future,” Dr Rebetzke said. “The goal here is more ‘crop for drop’ in sowing and getting the crop away at the right time of year, rather than risking delayed germination and delayed emergence. “New long coleoptile wheat varieties are being developed and are close to commercial release. This project will create the supporting agronomic packages so growers can optimise their performance.” Research parties also involved include the University of Melbourne, NSW Department of Primary Industries, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the University of South Australia and EPAG Research.