Plant stem strength: being strong without muscles (Podcast 25 Jun 2010)

Tree strength and stiffness are important properties for breeding plantation trees such as Eucalyptus, as they determine their capacity to make better timber products. (5:52)

Better tree breeding (Podcast 13 Oct 2008)

Discover the work of Chinese scientist Dr Harry Wu in improving approaches to tree breeding. Dr Harry Wu talks about his work in this special Mandarin edition of CSIROpod. (11:11)

Gene silencing success (Podcast 13 Oct 2008)

Discover how Chinese scientist Dr Ming-Bo Wang has been working on gene silencing technology that allows control of the function of certain genes such as improving crop yields and treating diseases. Dr Wang talks about his work in this special Mandarin edition of CSIROpod. (10:56)

Gene silencing scientists awarded PM’s Prize for Science (Podcast 19 Sep 2007)

CSIRO Plant Industry scientists Dr Peter Waterhouse and Dr Ming-Bo Wang have been awarded the 2007 Prime Minister's Prize for Science. (6:15)

CSIRO 'Sleuths' enlisted to avert food supply crisis (Podcast 22 Aug 2008)

Some of CSIRO’s best brains have been enlisted in an international effort to stop the spread of Ug99, a new wheat stem rust which threatens to devastate world wheat production. In this podcast, world leaders in rust research Dr Evans Lagudah and Dr Michael Ayliffe from CSIRO Plant Industry explain the link between Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Australian wheat varieties, and rice. (5.21)

Peter Dodds - saving the world from hunger (Podcast 04 Dec 2008)

CSIRO Plant Industry scientist, Dr Peter Dodds, has been named by the leading science journal Nature as one of five crop researchers who could change the world. In this podcast, Dr Dodds talks about the research that has attracted this acclaim. (5:21)

Food, fuel or both? (Podcast 24 Jul 2009)

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), CSIRO researchers have been awarded a AU$1.6 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Plant Feedstock Genomics program. The research will increase our understanding of genes responsible for growth and yield in grasses for use as bio-energy and food crops. (4:29)

Building better biodiversity (Podcast 21 Jul 2009)

A new biodiversity research team of over 100 scientists is being developed by CSIRO to help halt biodiversity decline and strike a balance between human development and conservation. (4:47)

Grapevine management

CSIRO research is targeting better vineyard management with work in areas such as carbohydrate dynamics, water use efficiency and sustainable performance. CSIRO is also part of the Wine Innovarion Cluster, a group of research agencies aiming to improve wine science and to make viticulture more sustainable and more suited to our changing climate.

Grape genetics

CSIRO’s grape genetics research is targeting wine and grape quality and disease resistance. CSIRO is also part of the Wine Innovarion Cluster, a group of research agencies aiming to improve wine science and to make viticulture more sustainable and more suited to our changing climate.

Dr Crispin Howitt: improving the quality of cereals

Dr Crispin Howitt leads a research group that is exploring the genetic basis of cereal quality.

Dr Steve Jobling: developing healthy new cereals

Dr Steve Jobling and his team are developing new cereal varieties with nutritional benefits and unique quality attributes.

Reducing blackleg damage in dual-purpose canola

CSIRO scientists have reduced the devastating effects of blackleg disease for dual-purpose canola . While canola has demonstrated its value as a dual-purpose crop in mixed farming systems, grazing can increase the risk of attack by the blackleg fungus because it exposes damaged plant tissues during the period of infection.

Dr Steve Milroy: improving crop production

Dr Steve Milroy is Sub Program Leader, Improving Crop Production and Quality of CSIRO's Plant Industry Division and is currently researching crop production in Western Australia's sandplain region.

Dr Ahmed Regina: understanding how plants make starch

Dr Regina leads a research group investigating the control of starch biosynthesis and structure in cereals with a focus on high amylose starches.

Closing the phosphorus-efficiency gap

Ways to reduce the costs of phosphorus fertiliser use on farms – critical for sustaining high agricultural production in many Australian farming systems – have been identified in a new suite of journal papers.

Identifying markers for a sustainable plantation industry

CSIRO's Hottest 100 project identified genetic markers which can assist tree breeders develop trees with better growth and wood properties in specific climate zones.

CSIRO intensifies search for wood trait markers

Expanding upon the success of the Hottest 100 project, Dr Simon Southerton and his team are set to undertake an extensive search for genetic markers to improve the productivity and sustainability of plantation forestry.

Phenonet: wireless sensors in agriculture

The High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre is using CSIRO-developed smart sensor nodes to record microclimate and plant data in the field in an effort to select new plant varieties suited to difficult growing conditions.

Plants primed to destroy devastating wheat virus

Wheat plants with total immunity to the devastating Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) could be a step closer due to the successful breeding of resistant species.

Wheat management

CSIRO is investigating different management techniques to identify ways of improving wheat yields in specific regions or under certain circumstances.

Understanding flowering time in cereals: Wheat data

CSIRO scientists are studying wheat flowering to develop wheat varieties adapted to defferent climates. (47 pages)

What is the difference between conventional and GM plant breeding?

Both conventional and GM plant breeding change the genes of a plant so that a new and better variety is developed, but what makes them different. Find out in this fact sheet.

What is genetic modification (GM)?

Genetic modification is the use of modern biotechnology techniques to change the genes of an organism, such as a plant or animal. Find out all the details in this fact sheet.

What are DNA markers?

DNA markers are a gene technology tool that helps breeders conventionally breed new plant varieties. The resultant new plant varieties are not genetically modified (GM). Read this fact sheet for more information.