Lupin Breeding

From 1988 I have worked as a professional plant breeder. In 1999 I was appointed as the Principal breeder of narrow-leafed lupins (L. angustifolius) in Australia with national responsibility for the development of varieties for all potential lupin growing areas across Australia. The following are the varieties i have released as a result of this breeding effort.

Narrow-leafed lupins

Quilinock

Mandelup

Coromup

Jenabillup

PBA Gunyidi

PBA Marlock

Yellow Lupins

Wodjil

Pootallong

Albus lupins

Andromeda

Rosetta

Amira

I was instrumental in implementing molecular markers into the breeding program - making the program a world leader in such technology.

The breeding program was based around two major streams.

  1. Core breeding program based on Recurrent Selection expressed by Prof Duane Faulks from Gwelf University which allowed fast turn around of parents back into the crossing program

  2. Increased genetic diversity through integration of wild and exotic material via a backcrossing program. This program followed the principles applied to rice by Prof. Susan McCouch of Cornell university