Nematodes are important pathogens of cereal crops in Australia. This investment will explore sources of resistance to two major nematodes, Cereal Cyst Nematode (CCN) and Pratylenchus thornei.

Cereal cyst nematode (CCN) was once a very damaging pathogen of cereal crops in southern Australia that has been effectively controlled by the development and adoption of resistant varieties. To maintain control, new varieties must also be resistant. This project aims to isolate and characterise two main CCN resistance genes in barley.

P. thornei is a major pathogen of wheat and also affects a number of crops that are routinely grown in rotation with wheat (most notably chickpeas). Most current varieties of wheat and chickpea are susceptible to P. thornei. This project will investigate a region on chromosome 6DS known to be associated with resistance with the aim of isolating a causal gene for susceptibility or resistance.

In chickpea, sources of P. thornei resistance have been identified and, in some cases used as parents in breeding programs. This project will develop molecular markers for resistance to assist the development of resistant varieties of chickpea.