ACRI - CSIRO Visit

Four Year 12 students and Mrs Grellman recently visited CSIRO plant breeder, Mr Warren Conaty at the ACRI facility at Myall Vale to examine the effect of technology on cotton genetics.

Students learnt about the nature of the cotton industry, the types of genetic modifications possible and the impact of these on plant variety, yield and the environment. 

Through novel research and applied plant breeding the CSIRO is able to develop Australian cotton varieties with the package of;

* Increased yield

* Fiber quality preferred by international spinners

* Resistance to all important diseases, and pests

* Widely adapted with abiotic stress resistance with GM traits of importance

All of which are achieved through the integration of traditional breeding and modern tools.

Students also had the opportunity to visit the greenhouses and learn how to pollinate plants and the origins of cotton species. 

WWHS is fortunate that our students have access to scientists who are willing to give their time and energy to enable them to investigate the syllabus and beyond.

Our biology students were visiting as part of an in-depth study in their work on heredity while our agriculture students investigated cotton production.