Smart Net-Zero

4 August 2026 | CSIRO |

Even a resistance gene that has protected crops for decades can eventually fail. Australian cotton has long relied on genetic resistance against bacterial blight, but when that protection unexpectedly broke down in the United States in 2011, CSIRO began searching for a second line of defense. Researchers have since identified a different resistance gene and are expanding beyond the traditional single reference genome by developing a cotton pangenome that captures genetic diversity across multiple plants. Combined with AI-assisted prediction and gene editing, this approach could help breeders identify valuable traits for disease resistance, fiber quality and yield—and prepare new varieties before existing protections fail.

Content adapted from CSIRO| Image source: CSIRO