Bioinformatics software package helps wheat breeders improve crops
A new software system being developed by University of Queensland researchers will help the world's wheat breeders select the best genes for improving crops.
School of Land and Food senior lecturer in quantitative genetics Dr Mark Cooper and lecturer in genetics Dr Ian DeLacy head the University's involvement in an $866,612 project funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation to develop the information management software.
It is believed to be the one of the world's largest bioinformatics (a relatively new research area involving the use of high-performance computing and software to manage, analyse and interpret biological data from DNA levels through to the organism's performance in different
environments) projects involving crops.
Collaborators within Australia are Dr Scott Chapman from the CSIRO's Tropical Agriculture Division and Dr Howard Eagles from the Co-operative Research Centre for Molecular Plant Breeding and internationally, Dr Paul Fox and Dr Maarten van Ginkel from the Mexican-based International Centre
for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT).
"The two main aims of the project are to: integrate three, pre-existing database and computer modelling systems into one widely accessible information management and decision-support system; and to develop computer models that simulate the operation of Australian and CIMMYT wheat-breeding programs. We already have a number of simulation models operating for some
Australian wheat-breeding programs," Dr Cooper said.
"With advances in gene and molecular technology, an enormous amount of information is being generated world-wide on the genetic control of particular plant traits manipulated in breeding programs. For example, scientists can now pinpoint some of the important genes to produce wheat
varieties for making bread or noodles. They know some of the genes important for producing greater grain yield, disease-resistance or stress tolerance in harsh environments.
"However, at present it is extremely difficult for breeders to access this sort of information in time to make decisions leading to new wheat varieties. The new package will help capture all of this data and convert it into a form facilitating better, more-informed decisions by wheat-breeders."
University of Queensland researchers developed QU-GENE, one of the three software systems that will be integrated into the new program. This system provides a computer simulation platform for modelling the genetic control of plant traits.
"The other two software systems involved in the project are the International Crop Information System (ICIS) which links genetic resources and genetic and experimental information generated by researchers around the world, and APSIM, a tool for evaluating plant performance in different
environments. The combined product will initially be aimed at wheat but will be expanded
to other plants."
For more information, contact Dr Mark Cooper (telephone 07 3365 2126).
