Good to see the real important stuff is being researched, gotta luv 'em, Bob

AUSTRALIAN scientists have toasted a way to safeguard the world’s beer supplies.

University of Queensland’s Dr Lee Hickey led a team that has discovered the gene Rph20 provides resistance to leaf rust in some barley plants.

Leaf rust is a fungal disease that could destroy almost a third of the nation’s barley crop - and barley is an essential ingredient in beer.

“I don’t think it will make beer cheaper but it’s more about reducing the cost of production for the farmer,” Dr Hickey said.

While the country’s primary use of barley was to make beer, it is also used as stock feed.

During field trials in Uruguay he was able to identify the rust resistant gene and develop a diagnostic DNA marker to determine the presence of the gene.

John Agnew, chair of the Northern Region Barley Advisory Committee, said crop losses due to rust could be up to 60 per cent.

“If you look at 2010-2011 crop, it was a very big problem,” he said