Marker Implementation in the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia Wheat Breeding Program

Abstract

Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) is being applied to a large breedingprogram that makes approximately 3,000 crosses and has a field programof 180,000 plots across 14 sites each year. In the breeding programMAS is seen as complementing the existing screening for yield, qualityand disease resistance. This paper describes the experiences of applyingMAS, role of MAS in the breeding program, its effect on breedingmethodology, and future directions for MAS in the program