AWB Seeds has added an exciting new wheat variety to its product range with the launch of the new Australian Hard variety, Rees.

Speaking at the launch in Queensland yesterday, Acting General Manager, AWB Seeds, Roger Tripathi said the release of Rees was good news for growers, as it provided a rare combination of drought resistance, high yields and excellent wheat quality.

"In tests conducted to date, Rees has been able to produce up to five per cent more grain with the same level of rainfall as similar varieties," Mr Tripathi said.

"Rees has also shown excellent resistance to a broad spectrum of diseases, being triple rust resistant and having a very high tolerance to root lesion nematodes," Mr Tripathi said.

AWB Seednet partner from Central Queensland Ian Buss said Rees boasted outstanding quality characteristics, with the grain suited to the production of Yellow Alkaline Noodles and the lucrative Asian markets.

"One of the key production features of Rees is its high water use efficiency, which means it has a high level of drought tolerance, while still being able to produce excellent yields," Mr Buss said.

Rees was developed by Graingene, a joint venture between AWB Limited, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, and CSIRO Plant Industry. The variety was developed in collaboration with the Australian National University and Enterprise Grains Australia, and is being commercialised by AWB Seeds.

Rees was officially released at Wowan, in Central Queensland, by Dr Richard Richards, from CSIRO Plant Industry.

Dr Richards said Rees’ high water use efficiency is attributed to the use of innovative DELTA technology. This enables the rapid identification of plants with more growth and yield in dry conditions, and then the ability to select and use the genes responsible for drought tolerance.
 
For more information, growers can contact their local AWB Seednet partner or AWB Seeds directly on 1800 054 433.