CSIRO Plant Industry scientists and international collaborators have discovered the key to overcoming three major cereal diseases.
The diseases cost wheat growers worldwide more than $7.8 billion in epidemic years.
Scientists from CSIRO Plant Industry, the University of Zurich and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre have identified a wheat gene sequence that provides protection against leaf rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew.
Senior principal research scientist Evans Lagudah said genetic disease resistance was desirable in plants as it was more environmentally friendly and profitable than strategies such as spraying pesticides.
The newly identified resistance gene product, known as Lr34 transporter protein, is the first of its kind to be found in a commercial crop that is capable of delivering broad-spectrum control of multiple pathogens.
"Scientists and farmers can commonly only respond to a rust outbreak after it has passed, but tests conducted after identifying the Lr34 gene sequence show it has provided partial but constant protection against leaf rust for over 80 years," Dr Lagudah said.
