The gene-bank collections of rhizobia strains in Australia have provided the cultures for development of commercial inoculant production and are a resource for the future improvement of the inoculants used for pulse and pasture legumes. Strains in these collections are routinely distributed nationally and internationally in support of legume development programs.

This investment aims to preserve Australia’s rhizobial collections by the consolidation of a national rhizobium gene bank at the Centre for Rhizobium Studies (CRS) at Murdoch University. Murdoch University will preserve these rhizobia strains in long term storage as cryopreserved and lyophilised cultures. A stocktake of strain collections across Australia will be undertaken. Based on the stocktake, collections will be consolidated with transfer of strains and unique accessions into the national rhizobia gene bank. Laboratory, glasshouse and field research will evaluate the stability and symbiotic capacity of strains. A single comprehensive catalogue of the rhizobial strain collections, including an index of rhizobia–host interactions, will be produced and used to develop an online web-based interactive catalogue and linked data base for efficient distribution and supply of strains to inoculant manufacturers, legume breeders, and researchers.

Current methods for rhizobial preservation will be evaluated and improved for safer preservation of rhizobia strains. Policies will be developed that meet Australia’s obligations under international treaties to strategically acquire new rhizobia strains for all legumes of value to the Australian grains industry. These policies will enable international access to genetic resources for the collection of new material and facilitate research using genetic material such as strains of rhizobia, and the sharing of results and applications between research partners and international countries. This will provide growers access, via inoculant manufacturers, to optimum strains of rhizobia.