A mutant gene, which can make a plant more able to survive drought, offers new hope for the nation's farmers and rivers, Australian scientists say.
The irregular gene (SAL1) was found to give an arabidopsis plant an ability to survive for much longer than usual without water.
Arabidopsis was the world's first plant to have its entire genome sequenced, and it is used as a model in plant-based science.
Canberra-based Professor Barry Pogson said the challenge now was to find the same genetic mutation in the world's dietary staples, and see whether it gave these plants similar boosted survival powers.
"It makes it more hardy and it survives without watering 50 per cent longer than a (ordinary arabidopsis) control plant does," said Prof Pogson, of the Australian National University.
"The gene is found in all plant species that we've looked at today and yes, it should have a similar function in crops like wheat and rice.
"CSIRO has huge seedstocks and its now a case of looking through to find one with the same ... mutation in the gene."
The research has received support from the federal government's Grains Research Development Corporation and CSIRO Plant Industry.
Prof Pogson said climate change modelling indicated Australia would become drier over the next century, ensuring "fewer and fewer good years and more bad or moderate years" for drought.
Identifying hardier agricultural seed stock could mean the difference between "some harvest as opposed to nothing" for farmers in those increased years of moderate drought, he said.
It could also ease some pressure on the nation's stressed river systems, where they were used for irrigation.
"In the sense that 70 per cent of Australian water is used in agriculture then ... this would be important," Prof Pogson said.
"It could help to reduce the need for irrigation water."
Prof Pogson said it would take another three years to isolate and assess agricultural plants with the SAL1 gene.
The mutation is naturally occurring, meaning the work can proceed without the same regulatory hurdles - and perhaps public controversy - that genetic modification of the seed stock would attract.
Success will also hinge on whether developing a hardier version of wheat, for example, did not lead to an overall lower yielding crop.
"The critical thing for farmers is not only is it drought tolerant in the bad years, does it have a yield penalty in the good years?" Prof Pogson said.
"So it's an exciting development that has the potential to be a breakthrough."
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