![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chickpea.jpg\")
\u00a9 QAAFI<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A University of Queensland study has outlined a practical pathway for accelerating the development of heat adapted chickpeas using data from new ‘omic’ technologies. <\/p>\n
“The narrow genetic diversity in the elite chickpea gene pool has limited conventional breeding’s effectiveness for stress tolerance,” Mr Jamie said.<\/p>\n
“These technologies have improved our capacity to dissect trait architecture and phenotype secondary traits but their use in chickpeas has been limited.”<\/p>\n
The technologies include genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics and enviromics, and help provide a comprehensive picture of biological systems. <\/p>\n
\u00a9 QAAFI<\/p>\n
PhD candidate Callum Jamie said the suite of technologies offered tremendous opportunities to understand how a complex trait like heat tolerance works. PhD Candidate Callum Jamie, Dr Millicent Smith and Dr Shanice Van Haeften at UQ’s Plant Futures Facility. Image: QAAFI. <\/p>\n
Epigenomics
Epigenomics helps understand what controls gene activity; transcriptomics considers gene expression; proteomics protein production; metabolomics looks at biochemical processes; phenomics observes traits; and enviromics considers environmental factors influencing outcomes. <\/p>\n
Mr Jamie said previous studies had focused on just 1 to 2 -omic datasets, a small number of genotypes, and single tissues.<\/p>\n
This has meant it was hard to infer what results meant for trait architecture and mechanisms and the ability to extrapolate the information to breeding populations was limited.<\/p>\n
There have also been challenges around cost, scalability and integrating very different types of data to make the technologies useful.<\/p>\n
Staged approach
To overcome the hurdles, Mr Jamie’s research at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation has resulted in a proposed staged approach. <\/p>\n
It would start with genomic prediction and phenotyping, before adding -omic layers as costs fall and unknowns were resolved.<\/p>\n
“These technologies are novel and we still don’t know which information provides added value and how best to integrate all of this data to achieve an outcome,” Mr Jamie said. <\/p>\n
His PhD is supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the International Research Training Group (IRTG) Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain and is aligned to a project which aims to fast-track the development of chickpea varieties adapted to high temperatures. <\/p>\n
Project leader Dr Millicent Smith said heat stress causes severe yield implications through flower and pod loss, reduced pollen viability and impaired grain filling.<\/p>\n
“Late sown chickpea is particularly in the firing line across most of Australia’s crop in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales,” Dr Smith said.<\/p>\n
“We want to ensure that Australian growers maintain their competitive edge.<\/p>\n
“New varieties with improved genetics to cope with heat stress are essential for the future.<\/p>\n
“This work, suggesting a staged approach to utilising the new -omic technologies, is an exciting frontier.”<\/p>\n
Read the research in Food and Energy Security. <\/a><\/p>\n The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland, established with and supported by the Department of Primary Industries.<\/p>\n For more information:
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University of Queensland
Jamie Callum
[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovations
Rebecca Thyer
[email\u00a0protected]<\/a> <\/p>\n