A MAJOR PROGRAM of collaboration between The University of Wollongong and private industry has come to fruition with the release of a new analytical instrument. This device, called in honour of Australia's bicentenary the TRUBLUGLU meter, gives a direct readout of the levels of toxic plant chemicals known as glucosinolates in samples of crushed rapeseed.

The TRUBLUGLU meter designed and built in conjunction with a local Wollongong firm, Systrix Pty Ltd, can also measure the concentration of glucose in solutions—for examples, wine and fruit juices. The launch of the meter is the culmination of over two years' laboratory research by Dr John Tholen and Professor Roger Truscott in the Department of Chemistry.

In 1985 The University of Wollongong joined with PacificSeeds Ltd, Queensland, in a project aimed at improvingthe quality and yield of rapeseed, one of the major food crops in China. Rapeseed is widely grown for the production of cooking oil and China is the world's largest producer (5.3 million tonnes in 1985).

A proposal was submitted to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which agreed to fund the project to the tune of $266,000 over three years.

The objective of the program was simple: to develop a rapeseed variety for China with better quality and yield characteristics. But how to achieve this? The answer involved plant breeding.

Plant breeding is a long and tedious process involving the multiple crossing of plants displaying desirable characteristics with varieties commercially grown at present. The daughter plants must then be selected at each successive generation and only the best taken for further crossing. When a feature such as improved plant height or vigour is being selected, the screening process can be accomplished easily by eye. But how can you check if a new plant has good seed quality properties? Since many thousands of plants must be examined in order to find the best for further breeding, a chemical test is needed, and one which is simple, inexpensive, rapid and accurate.

A tall order! In the case of rapeseed, improving the quality means removing toxic plant chemicals glucosinolates from the seed. (Anyone who has opened a bottle of mustard is familiar with the breakdown products of glucosinolates. In this case the acrid smell is due to a chemical called allyl isothiocyanate.) Prof. Truscott's research has not only developed such a test, it has also developed a reflectance meter which provides a direct digital readout of the glucosinolate content in rapeseed.

This technology is at present being demonstrated at a number of agricultural research institutes in China by Dr Truscott’s postgraduate student, Dr John Tholen.

Institutes at Wuhan and Nanjing are conducting the rapeseed breeding together with Mr Greg Buzza at Pacific Seeds Ltd in Toowoomba. Scientists from these organisations in China have also been trained by Dr John Tholen at the Department of Chemistry in the use of advanced techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectroscopy. These technique can be used for the analysis of many plant biochemicals.

An HPLC unit has been purchased by Dr Truscott and in-stalled at the Institute of Oil Crops Research in Wuhan using funds provided by ACIAR.

Although the primary focus of the program has been to assist development in China by making available the expertise of Australian scientists, many spin-offs from the research will have an impact on Australia. For example, the TRUBLUGLU meter and other techniques developed in the course of the research will be used by plant breeders in Australia. As well, rapeseed varieties produced in the collaborative venture will be available for incorporation into local breeding programs. TRUBLUGLU meters will be produced in Wollongong for export world-wide. A comprehensive survey of potential applications of this technology to other areas, for example the food industry, is envisaged as the next separate stage of the program.