The time of flowering is known to be the single most important trait that determines the adaptation and yield of barley, and other cereals, to the variable climates and diverse growing regions of the Australian grain belt. Achieving the highest possible yields and the best quality requires that the critical event of flowering, and the following period of grain production, coincide with optimal seasonal conditions in terms of rainfall and temperature. Barley genotypes vary genetically for the period they require from planting to flowering and maturity and combining desirable genes that underlie the variations in phase development and flowering behaviour plays a core role in breeding better adapted barley varieties for Australian growers.

This project will use innovative approaches to develop germplasm, allele-specific molecular markers and APSIM (The Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator) simulations aimed at breeding specifically adapted barley cultivars with high grain yield and quality through manipulation of phenology genes.