Up to 30% of South Australia’s grain-growing soils are affected, and barley yields have been reduced by up to 17% by boron toxicity Photo: Jurema Oliveira/USDA

A major gene that could potentially lead to boron-tolerant barley has been discovered by University of Adelaide scientists. The gene, Bot1, prevents boron entering and damaging the growth of barley plants.

“Boron toxicity and deficiency severely limit crop production worldwide,” Professor Peter Langridge, CEO of the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, explains. “Boron is an essential micronutrient for plants, but they require just the right amount.”

Boron-rich soil affects much of southern Australia, Asia and Africa. Up to 30% of South Australia’s grain-growing soils are affected, and barley yields have been reduced by up to 17% by boron toxicity.

“We used genomics, which is a combination of modern molecular biology techniques, to identify the sequence of the boron-tolerant gene and the underlying molecular mechanism that provides the tolerance,” Dr Sutton, a member of the Adelaide team, explains.  

Scientists can now potentially incorporate the Bot1 gene into commercial barley varieties.

“Farmers growing barley in high boron environments will be able to choose varieties of barley more suited to their soils, therefore minimising crop loss to this condition,” Professor Langridge adds.

The findings from “Boron toxicity tolerance in barley arising from efflux transporter amplification” were published in the 30 November issue of Science.
By Rebecca Debens

> Not a subscriber? Subscribe

RELATED NEWS

Arcadia completes first field trial for drought-tolerant crops