New Zealand farmers, along with their Australian counterparts, are exploring avenues to enhance agricultural value while minimizing environmental impacts. In Australia, collaborative efforts between Plant & Food Research and Australian genetic researchers are paving the way for advancements in gene technology. This partnership aims to develop smaller, more efficient, and higher yielding avocado and citrus trees. Plant & Food Research's prior work identified a gene marker in apple root stock that promotes dwarfism, enabling higher density planting and increased early yield. This discovery has significantly contributed to a tenfold increase in apple orchard productivity over four decades.
Currently, researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are working to apply similar gene editing technologies to avocado and citrus root stock. This initiative follows the successful commercial release of a gene-edited banana variety in Australia, designed to combat a tropical fungal disease. Professor Peter Prentis, leading QUT's centre for agriculture and the bioeconomy, highlighted the progress in gene editing citrus and avocado root stock plants in tissue culture.
The collaboration between New Zealand and Australian researchers is facilitated by shared funding and a focus on addressing significant agricultural challenges. Gavin Ross from Plant & Food Research emphasized the benefits of this partnership, including the potential for automation in orchard management and harvesting due to the development of smaller tree rootstocks.
Source: farmersweekly.co.nz