Plant breeders gather at Lincoln

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 13

Plant breeders gather at Lincoln

The largest gathering oi plant breeders ever in New Zealand meets at Lincoln next week. Some 75 overseas breeders from 15 countries will join with 100 New Zealand plant breeders for a symposium from Tuesday, to Thursday, next week. The event marks 50 years since a D.S.I.R. plant research station was established at Lincoln and the first wheat to be bred in New Zealand was released. The breeders range from Dr John Bingham, a plant breeder from the United Kingdom whose wheat varieties account for 75 per cent of the United Kingdom acreage, to Dr Mazo Price from the state of Rwanda in

Central Africa. Dr Price breeds cowpeas with disease resistance using techniques similar to those of New Zealand pea breeders. “New Zealand is recognised as an important world centre for breeding,” said Dr Michael Dunbier, the chairman of the symposium organising committee.

Breeding efforts in kiwifruit, tamarillos and babacos, clovers and grasses, and Pinus radiata had given New Zealand a good reputation overseas, he said.

“Meetings such as this promote the New Zealand agricultural industry and help our scientists to keep up with the latest developments overseas,” added Dr Dunbier.