description
- The CIMMYT Australia ICARDA Germplasm Evaluation (CAIGE) program coordinates the importation, quarantine, multiplication, distribution and evaluation of wheat and barley lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The CAIGE shipments from CIMMYT and ICARDA comprise germplasm that has been selected to better meet Australian requirements. Germplasm is imported every other year from each Centre and all the lines imported and quarantined are evaluated in national CAIGE yield trials and disease nurseries in Australia. The aim is to select the best genetic material available, provide this germplasm and supporting data to the breeding programs to ultimately ensure growers have better varieties. Moreover, CAIGE tries to select lines with improved disease resistance and stress tolerance.