Genetic diversity, trait variation and plant improvement – DKCRC CP2.1 final report
Genetic diversity, trait variation and plant improvement – DKCRC CP2.1 final report Report
- Author(s): Waycott, M.
- Tertiary Author(s): Desert Knoweldge Cooperative Research Centre
- Published: 2010
- Publisher: Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
Abstract: Fundamental to the development of novel food products with a distinctly Australian flavour is the identification and utilisation of the diversity that occurs in wild populations. In desert environments plants must survive extreme ecological stressors and it is not uncommon for the exposed portions of desert plants to be highly ephemeral and respond rapidly to environmental change. As a result desert plant life histories commonly show rapid responses to changing moisture availability, tolerance to extremes such as fire and prolonged drought, and biological mechanisms to persist until viable growth conditions occur, typically through seed banks, clonality or longevity. Thus, the standing stock (or population) of a particular plant in the field at any one time may be highly variable depending upon the history of local environmental conditions. As a result, the quantity of a particular plant, in the case of species such as Solanum centrale, known by a number of names, desert raisin, bush tomato or Akatyerr, will be highly variable for traits such as fruit production at any one time. The consequences to product supply will be high variability year to year reducing reliability of product availability at any one time. New product development and market acceptance requires reliable sources of marketable product preferably with highly valued palatability. At present, many desert bush foods are primarily obtained for market through wild-harvest activities, with some efforts to establish plantations and horticultural plots except for older products such as Macadamia. The wild harvest plant material collected is highly variable both in availability and palatability. Thus, for the benefit of industry development, we need to understand the basis of variability in plant characteristics, both desirable and undesirable. In addition, the use of wild collected material and subsequent In this report, I summarise the results of investigations into the genetic resources, variability and factors affecting selections of plants for use in horticultural development. The final section of the report contains a set of recommendations and issues in the establishment of horticultural plantings of Solanum centrale for commercial production in Australia.
Notes: contact Ninti One for report availability
- Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/Waycott_GeneticDiversity_DKCRC_CP2.1_FinalReport_04Oct2010.pdf
- Publisher Location: Alice Springs