Published Sunday, 01 July, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
QUEENSLAND DEVELOPING THE ‘PERFECT’ MANGO: PREMIER
Researchers in Queensland are on a quest to develop the perfect mango that will give growers better yields and consumers a new taste sensation.
Premier Peter Beattie said the Smart State research team developing the “super mango” hoped to give the industry a significant boost with potential to crack into new and emerging markets.
“The Queensland mango industry is worth an estimated $100 million to the State economy, with one variety dominating – the Kensington Pride, or Bowen mango,” Mr Beattie said.
“Imagine what benefits could flow from a new variety – or varieties, for that matter – that were more productive, offered consumers improved texture and taste, travelled well and offered amazing potential as health super food,” he said.
The research, a collaboration involving Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries projects undertaken through the Mango Genomics Initiative and the National Mango Breeding Program, features in the latest edition of Catalyst magazine.
Mr Beattie said the mango project was following in the footsteps of research which started in 2005 to create the world’s best-tasting pineapple within a decade. It is on track for a limited pineapple release within two years.
“Our Smart State researchers are really pushing the boundaries of discovery in many areas and attracting attention from around the world,” said the Premier.
“From medical science and climate change to horticulture, our Smart State scientists are up there with the best in the world and I am proud of them.”
Dr Ralf Dietzgen, who leads the Mango Genomics Initiative, said plant breeders were merging the characteristics of Kensington Pride with other varieties in a bid to create the perfect sweet tropical treat.
He said improving productivity and product differentiation were critical to the future of Queensland’s mango industry.
By custom designing mangoes to meet consumers’ expectations of taste, colour, texture and nutrition, he said the industry would receive a significant jolt.
“Traditional approaches can take up to 25 years to develop a new mango variety but our work in mango genomics and our accelerated breeding program could see this record shortened by several years,” Dr Dietzgen said.
“The Queensland mango industry is predominantly based on the Kensington Pride, with its great flavour but the variety yields poorly, averaging only 5 to 7 tonnes per hectare,” he said.
“We recognise there is enough genetic diversity within the mango gene pool to reach yields of 60 tonnes per hectare.”
DPI&F’s National Mango Breeding Project aims to combine the best characteristics of a range of varieties identified by the Mango Genomics Initiative which could make the Queensland mango industry the most competitive in the world.
“Molecular markers developed in the genomics initiative are already being used by breeders to improve the breeding efficiency by identifying preferred progeny at a seedling stage,” Dr Dietzgen said.
The Mango Genomics Initiative involves DPI&F’s Emerging Technologies and Horticulture and Forestry Sciences business units.
Research partners in the project are The University of Queensland’s Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences and School of Pharmacy for identifying bioactive compounds and health attributes; Queensland Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics for gene discovery; and the Australian Genome Research Facility for high throughput sequencing.
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Premier Peter Beattie said the Smart State research team developing the “super mango” hoped to give the industry a significant boost with potential to crack into new and emerging markets.
“The Queensland mango industry is worth an estimated $100 million to the State economy, with one variety dominating – the Kensington Pride, or Bowen mango,” Mr Beattie said.
“Imagine what benefits could flow from a new variety – or varieties, for that matter – that were more productive, offered consumers improved texture and taste, travelled well and offered amazing potential as health super food,” he said.
The research, a collaboration involving Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries projects undertaken through the Mango Genomics Initiative and the National Mango Breeding Program, features in the latest edition of Catalyst magazine.
Mr Beattie said the mango project was following in the footsteps of research which started in 2005 to create the world’s best-tasting pineapple within a decade. It is on track for a limited pineapple release within two years.
“Our Smart State researchers are really pushing the boundaries of discovery in many areas and attracting attention from around the world,” said the Premier.
“From medical science and climate change to horticulture, our Smart State scientists are up there with the best in the world and I am proud of them.”
Dr Ralf Dietzgen, who leads the Mango Genomics Initiative, said plant breeders were merging the characteristics of Kensington Pride with other varieties in a bid to create the perfect sweet tropical treat.
He said improving productivity and product differentiation were critical to the future of Queensland’s mango industry.
By custom designing mangoes to meet consumers’ expectations of taste, colour, texture and nutrition, he said the industry would receive a significant jolt.
“Traditional approaches can take up to 25 years to develop a new mango variety but our work in mango genomics and our accelerated breeding program could see this record shortened by several years,” Dr Dietzgen said.
“The Queensland mango industry is predominantly based on the Kensington Pride, with its great flavour but the variety yields poorly, averaging only 5 to 7 tonnes per hectare,” he said.
“We recognise there is enough genetic diversity within the mango gene pool to reach yields of 60 tonnes per hectare.”
DPI&F’s National Mango Breeding Project aims to combine the best characteristics of a range of varieties identified by the Mango Genomics Initiative which could make the Queensland mango industry the most competitive in the world.
“Molecular markers developed in the genomics initiative are already being used by breeders to improve the breeding efficiency by identifying preferred progeny at a seedling stage,” Dr Dietzgen said.
The Mango Genomics Initiative involves DPI&F’s Emerging Technologies and Horticulture and Forestry Sciences business units.
Research partners in the project are The University of Queensland’s Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences and School of Pharmacy for identifying bioactive compounds and health attributes; Queensland Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics for gene discovery; and the Australian Genome Research Facility for high throughput sequencing.
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500