Queensland, Australia
September 22, 2009

Source: University of Queensland

Australian canola farmers are one step closer to protecting their crops from a devastating disease thanks to Dr Batley's research.

Her work focuses on why some canola crops are attacked by the Blackleg fungal pathogen, and yet others remain completely unaffected.

The excellence award will allow Dr Batley to use the latest gene sequencing technologies to discover disease resistance genes in wild Brassica species.

“Many farmers are currently using chemicals to get rid of Blackleg or growing canola on the same area only once every three years, but it would be much better if the disease never infected the plants in the first place,”

Dr Batley said. It's estimated that the Australian agricultural industry suffers, on average, a 15 percent loss in canola crops every year because of Blackleg.

Website: http://www.uq.edu.au

Published: September 22, 2009