13
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION GROUND COVER
SKILLS
With so few researchers and only three laboratories
involved in biotechnology in pulse breeding it is essential
that resources are combined to maximise returns. Canadian
researcher Monika Lulsdorf (left) is currently based in
Australia and is pictured with Perth-based colleagues
Federico Ribalta, Willie Erskine and Kylie Edwards.
such as lupin and the perennial tedera.
"It is always surprising how much can be learnt by
finding ways to overcome problems in other species."
In order to make progress it is essential that
researchers in this area pool their knowledge
and resources. Providing other groups with
training on new techniques developed in
another laboratory is also important.
"We frequently find that success lies in the detail
of the application of a technique, sometimes it is
hard to communicate these details because they
have become second nature," Dr Lulsdorf says.
"Seeing how others execute a technique and practice
makes a big difference to the successful application."
While in Australia, Dr Lulsdorf has learnt
some techniques for improving androgenesis of
field pea. These techniques were developed by
Federico Ribalta, a GRDC-sponsored PhD student
working with Dr Croser and the team at UWA.
While some may see France and Canada as
competitors of Australia in the world grains market,
Dr Lulsdorf suggests that the real competitor is soybeans.
"In the world market we need to make pulses
more competitive against this high-protein
crop. This will come from pre-competitive
collaboration in research on pulses." □
GRDC Research Code UWA00140
More information: Dr Monika Lulsdorf, research scientist,
University of Saskatchewan/UWA, 08 6488 2033,
monika.lulsdorf@uwa.edu.au; www.grdc.com.au/UWA00140
In 2005, Dr Kumari was awarded a GRDC
Travel Fellowship to Australia. During this visit
she gained a strong appreciation of the Australian
pulse industry and its pathology requirements while
working with the teams in NSW and Victoria.
Dr Kumari now oversees the screening of large
germplasm collections of faba beans, lentils and
chickpeas in the search for virus resistance. It is
resulting in advances in the breeding of pulses with
improved resistance to viruses such as beet western
yellows virus in chickpeas, bean leafroll virus in
faba beans and cucumber mosaic virus in lentils.
Having parallel screening for resistance
in widely different environments and against
diverse pathogen strains also enhances the chance
of identifying durable resistance genes.
Collaborating with international institutions
such as ICARDA can provide some interesting
spin-offs. In one case, this involves camels and
their especially small antibodies, smaller than
in other species. Antibodies are produced by the
immune system to recognise foreign compounds
such as viruses but can be made in the laboratory
for use as diagnostic reagents. The small
size of camel antibodies vastly simplifies the
manufacture of these reagents (or 'nanobodies').
In one instance, Australian pulse improvement
programs will have access to nanobodies to
pulse viruses made in a UNESCO-sponsored
project at the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission.
They can be used in disease monitoring and
to breed for improved resistance. □
GRDC Research Codes DAN00140, DAV00078
More information: Joop van Leur, senior plant pathologist,
NSW DPI, 02 6763 1204, joop.vanleur@industry.nsw.gov.au;
www.grdc.com.au/DAN00140, www.grdc.com.au/DAV00078
COUNTRY
Syria (ICARDA)
PHOTO: DAFWA