Australia Works on Steam Bread Wheat

DONALD - May 6/02 - STAT -- The Australian wheat production industry is trying to create a new class of wheat it hopes will fit into the steamed bread market in China and other Asian countries.

The state agriculture department for Western Australia is now evaluating the commercial potential of two lines of wheat it believes will work in this niche market.

Department wheat development officer Steve Penny said the commercial evaluation of the breeding line WAWHT2193 by industry over the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons was critical to test market requirements for a potential new wheat quality type.

Penny said the department was working in collaboration with GRDC, the AWB and CBH to examine market suitability for steamed bread. "WAWHT2193 was initially identified in 1999, during collaborative work between the department and AWB," he said.

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