Progress Report
Trials have identified an improved line of Setaria italica (040 SS) which is being increased for possible release to farmers within twelve months.
As well, nine reselections of the current White French Millet variety are being seed increased following several cycles of selections designed to improve the grain quality, by removing the brown seeded plants, as well as screening for disease resistance and standability.
Groups of farmers in traditional millet growing areas are commencing a millet crop recording program designed to establish best industry practices for their areas by conducting objective post-mortems of the season. The scheme will be conducted extensively, once the new millet varieties are released and grown.
Studies are commencing to investigate the value of millet for patients on gluten-free diets and the risk of contamination of millets by gluten-containing cereals.
Prosho millet (Panicum miliaceum) and Foxtail millet (Setaria italica)
Publications
Fletcher, R.J., May, A.P., Mitchell, S.P. and Sheppard, J.A. The relationship between grain weight and potential coleoptile length in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its relevance to evaluation of cultivars for potential coleoptile length. (To be resubmitted to Aust. J. Agric. Res.).
Fletcher, R.J., Mitchell, S.P. and Karyudi. (1996) Improvement program for the millet/panicum industry. Proceedings, 8th Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, February, 1996, 651.
Mitchell, S.P. and Fletcher, R.J. (1996) Are wheat seedlings intelligent? Proceedings, 8th Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, February, 1996, 688.
Mitchell, S.P. and Fletcher, R.J. (1996) Field establishment of birdseed millet. Proceedings, Fourth Annual Research Conference, The University of Queensland Gatton, October, 1996, 63.
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Agriculture and Horticulture, The University of Queensland Gatton, 4343; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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