Canopy management techniques used to reduce lodging in temperate regions may reduce yield potential of irrigated wheat in the subtropics. This field study in south-east Queensland found that ‘in-crop’ N application in combination with soil residual N at sowing of 50–100 kg ha^–1 obtained the highest yields with the least lodging, in combination with plant populations of 70–90 plants m². We conclude that canopy management can reduce lodging and increase yield in the subtropics but requires different implementation to that used in temperate regions of Australia.

In the last decade, there has been a growing recognition of the potential to increase crop production in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia. Using a mix of methods we measured current crop yields being achieved on farm and compared this will what is potentially possible under optimal management. We found substantial scope for yield improvement and outline the priorities for future research, development and extension that will assist in overcoming yield constraints.

Low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) from ten accessions of four Aegilops species (Sitopsis section) were evaluated, and 20 novel genes were obtained, of which nine were LMW-m and 11 were LMW-s genes. Only two were pseudogenes, corresponding to one LMW-m and one LMW-s gene. The analysis of reactive epitopes for coeliac disease revealed that these LMW-s and some LMW-m lacked toxicity.

The AquaCrop crop model was calibrated and validated for pearl millet, a drought tolerant cereal crop. The model was able to simulate canopy cover, biomass and grain yield of pearl millet under irrigation and rainfed conditions. Simulation of soil water content by the model needs improvements.

The projected increase in mean temperatures due to climate change is expected to have detrimental impacts on berry quality but inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could help grapevines to cope with abiotic stresses. Different fruit-bearing cuttings clones were inoculated with AMF and subjected to two temperature regimes. In some clones the association of grapevines with AMF may play an important role in the context of climate change to maintain or improve fruit quality by enhancing antioxidant properties.

Amphicarpy is a useful trait for promoting persistence in pasture species. This study describes how the expression of amphicarpy varies between morphotypes in the tropical Australian native legume, Vigna lanceolata. Analysis of the trait in hybrids between morphotypes indicates that it should be feasible to breed an annual amphicarpic ideotype potentially suited as a cover or ley crop and an amphicarpic perennial ideotype potentially suited for pasture or forage purposes.

Stem lodging causes significant losses in crops of cereals and oilseeds. We identifies that the thickness of primary and secondary structures, diameter of the stem lodging zone, sclerenchyma packages area and secondary xylem tissue area, causes stem lodging in sunflower during the ontogeny cycle and in crops with high density. The study provides the first results for sunflower crops, of the basis of intraspecific differences in the susceptibility to stem lodging.

Buckwheat is generally grown in cool temperate regions. With the view to extending the cultivation of buckwheat to Mediterranean environments, the responses of two varieties to three sowing times in rainfed and irrigated conditions were investigated. Results indicated that in Mediterranean environments, buckwheat could be profitably introduced as a minor summer crop, sown in early spring for grain production and in late spring for forage production.

Resistance to bluegreen aphid was assessed in a range of Trifolium species and identified in white clover, rose clover, crimson clover, red clover and subterranean clover. In a greenhouse experiment, damage from bluegreen aphid resulted in forage yield penalties of 72–100% when inoculated at 14 days after sowing and 13−74% when inoculated at 42 days. Observations of severe bluegreen aphid damage in field experiments confirmed that field damage could occur in seasons favourable to aphid growth and reproduction.