DURUM Breeding Australia's southern node leader Jason Able says the organisation is building strong international linkages with other research and marketing bodies.
The DBA-bred durum variety Yawa is proving popular in Chile, where it is yielding about 10 tonnes a hectare.
"In a trial in Chile, Yawa has significantly out-yielded all their varieties by 2.5t/ha for the third year in a row," he said.
"We're looking to licence one variety this year and it is likely to be Yawa."
Dr Able said there were some strong future lines coming through the breeding program.
"There is a lot of material coming through stacking up at Aurora level or better," he said.
Durum trials were also set to be expanded this season.
"We're going to establish trials in areas that are not widely known for growing durum or have grown durum historically," he said.
"It offers a good opportunity to compare durum to leading bread wheats."
Some new areas where durum trials will go in this year include Yeelanna on the Eyre Peninsula and Coonalypn in the Upper South East.
Durum varieties will also be tested in the Australian Grain Technologies' heat stress chamber this year.
Paula Thompson
Stock Journal's markets editor.
Stock Journal's markets editor.
