Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA)
Overview
CLIMA is a research centre to apply leading edge science to problems and priorities identified by the Australian grain and pasture legume industries. We have the capability of integrating conventional plant breeding with the new tools of biotechnology for rapid enhancement of grain and legume pasture varieties.Biotechnology offers an important suite of tools that breeders can use to identify superior parent plants and to introduce novel traits. More than a decade ago, CLIMA was one of the first organisations to adopt these tools.
Current projects include, the development of molecular markers for rapid selection of better breeding lines, molecular maps for gene discovery, genetic fingerprints for improving use of germplasm collections, novel gene transfer methods, doubled haploids, rapid generation advancement protocols, interspecific hybridisation, the use of participatory breeding methodologies, and mutation breeding for more rapid release of better varieties.
Number of employees: 25
Main business focus/
Listing by sector:
- AgBio - Plant
- Research Organisation
Competitive Advantages
Key areas of expertise
Genetic analysis, functional genomics, gene silencing and gene transfer
Genetic mapping
Molecular diagnostics
Legume gene transfer
DNA fingerprinting of germplasm and cultivars
Improved germplasm and practical breeding programs
Mutagenesis to create tolerance to herbicides in grain legumes
Commercial success stories
Chickpea cultivars with improved ascochyta resistance
Novel pasture legume cultivars
New grain legume cultivars
Lupin germplasm with improved tolerance to herbicide
Technology/IP
Key resources
- Human resource capacity with over fifty skilled scientists and research assistants
- Twenty postgraduate research students registered at The University of Western Australia and Murdoch University
- Established national and international collaboration with major legume research centres
- Full containment level 2 (PC2) laboratories, growth rooms and glasshouses for plant research
- Genetic engineering of lupin, chickpea, lentil, faba bean and pasture legumes
- Automated DNA sequencing, proteomics, microarray and RT-PCR facilities
- Dedicated seed storage facilities
- Plant disease diagnosis and molecular marker development
Target markets
- Plant breeding and agrochemical companies
- Grain growers in Australia and overseas
Corporate Alliances/Partnerships
- Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
- The University of Western Australia
- CSIRO
- Murdoch University
Contact Details
| Contact person | Professor William Erskine |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Director |
| Address | University of Western Australia |
| 35 Stirling Highway | |
| City/Suburb | Crawley |
| State | Western Australia |
| william.erskine@uwa.edu.au | |
| Phone | (+61 8) 6488 1903 |
| Fax | (+61 8) 6488 1197 |
| Website | http://www.clima.uwa.edu.au |
