Cooperative wheat breeding and doubled haploid training services
The University of Sydney’s Plant Breeding Institute provides expert consulting and training in doubled haploid (DH) technology for wheat. This methodology slashes breeding times from over a decade to six years, enabling rapid development of new, high-performance wheat cultivars. With a track record of supporting multinational agriscience companies, this service offers partners proven, scalable protocols to accelerate their own crop breeding pipelines.
Overview
The Plant Breeding Institute (PBI) at the University of Sydney offers specialized expertise and collaboration in doubled haploid (DH) technology for wheat breeding. Pioneered at the PBI, this methodology significantly accelerates the breeding cycle, reducing the time required to develop new wheat varieties from 10–12 years to approximately 6 years. This service allows industry partners to access established, commercially-proven protocols to enhance the efficiency and precision of their own breeding programs.
Technical specifications
The DH technology service includes:
- Commercial-scale protocol adaptation: Expert guidance on implementing DH workflows within commercial breeding environments.
- Process optimization: Support for improving breeding cycle speed and genetic gain.
- Expert training: Specialized training for researchers and breeding teams on established DH methodologies.
- Proven methodology: Access to techniques used to develop over 25 commercial wheat cultivars currently in use across diverse agro-climatic regions.
Technology readiness level
Not applicable as this is a consulting and training service. The underlying technology is mature and has been in commercial use since 2004, with successful application by major multi-national agriscience companies.
About University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a comprehensive public research university and one of Australia’s largest, with multi‑campus reach across metropolitan Sydney. Industry partners can access advanced core facilities, testbeds, and prototyping spaces, with labs embedded in or adjacent to hospital precincts at Camperdown–Darlington and Westmead. An industry engagement team and technology transfer office support IP, contracting, licensing, and startup formation, with options to co‑locate teams on campus. Research is supported by competitive national funding, including the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council, plus state and industry partnerships. Proximity to Sydney’s Tech Central innovation precinct and major transport links streamlines collaboration and talent access.
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