Centre for Legumes in
Mediterranean Agriculture

CLIMA Research

CLIMA research projects summary

Click on the link above to view titles and chief investigators for current and recent CLIMA research projects.

See links in left hand margin for more information on research into and varieties of pulses (including lupins) and annual pasture legumes.  The links under pulses include further information on some of our research projects including projects on molecular studies, and root structure.

Information on many of our ongoing or recently completed research projects is available in our 2001-2002, 2003-2004, and 2005-2006 Biennial Reports.  PDF versions of these can be found under "Publications" in the left-hand margin". 

Recent initiatives developed through CLIMA have been listed below. Click on each project for further information.

• A major research agreement between CLIMA, ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics) and COGGO (Council of Grain Grower Organisations), for a project "Accelerated genetic improvement of desi chickpea: An International Partnership between DAFWA, CLIMA, ICRISAT and COGGO".  It is funded by COGGO with significant support from DAFWA and UWA.

• An ARC-linkage project with DAFWA on 'exploitation of molecular markers and ecogeographic data for genetic improvement and linkage studies in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). 

• An ARC-linkage project with DAFWA on ‘Accelerating the genetic improvement of grain legumes for Australia by developing doubled haploid technology for field pea and chickpea’, supported by COGGO.

• An ARC-linkage project with DAFWA on "Predictive models and decision support systems for virus diseases and aphid vectors of lupin and canola". 

• An ACIAR project on integrated management of Botrytis Grey Mould in chickpea between Bangladesh and Australia. 

• A project with Department of Fisheries, an Aquaculture Nutrition Subprogram: ‘Evaluation of value added grain products for Atlantic salmon’. This research is supported by Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC), CSIRO, Uni of Tasmania, AKVAFORSK (Norway), Skretting Australia Pty Ltd, Co-operative Bulk Handling Pty Ltd and Weston Technologies Pty Ltd.

• An internationally funded project on investigations into marketing opportunities for alternative oil seeds. 

• A GRDC funded project ‘An International collaboration to develop Interspecific Hybrids between chickpeas and its wild relatives’ to research access to a natural resource for chickpea improvement.

• A GRDC funded project ‘Pearl Lupin – development of the first Australian cultivar for commercial evaluation’. A GRDC funded project on ‘Lupin germplasm characterisation’. 

• A GRDC funded project on ‘Interspecific hybridisation in lupins’. 

• A GRDC funded project on ‘Improved herbicide tolerance for pulses in the Western Region’

• An ACIAR/ICARDA project ‘Better crop germplasm and management for improved production of wheat, barley, pulse and forage legumes in Iraq’.  CLIMA has a component of this project as a collaborator.

• An ACIAR/ICARDA project ‘Plant health management for Faba Bean, Chickpea and lentils’. CLIMA has a component of this project as a collaborator

• A COGGO funded project ‘Improvement of salinity and boron toxicity tolerance in chickpea’.

• A large ACIAR project based in Timor Leste ‘Seeds of Life 2’. This project is to establish a research and extension program within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).  MAFF will undertake the Project on behalf of the Government of Timor Leste.  The main objective of this project is to develop and test new varieties, and technologies for staple food crops within the region.