Breeder demand for and utilisation of wheat genetic resources in Australia

As part of a study of genetic diversity in wheat, Australian wheat breeders were surveyed to assess the importance of genetic diversity to breeders. T his paper reports the findings of that survey, and identifies the key issue s that concern wheat breeders. The issues addressed include the breeders' a ttitude to diversity and the diversity available in their current gene pool . The sources of materials that breeders use to maintain and/or enhance div ersity in their programmes are identified and ways in which diversity influ ences breeding decisions are also examined. More importantly from the polic y view point, survey responses identify changes over time in the environmen t in which breeders operate that affect the extent to which they can enhanc e diversity. Funding constraints, in particular, are shown to influence th extent to which breeders can utilise genetic diversity. The paper raises so me important issues concerning the future genetic diversity of Australia's wheat industry, and the extent to which economic problems related to geneti c diversity may arise in the future.