GRDC genetic technologies officer Dr Temitope Jekayinoluwa, Department of Primary Industries executive director Wayne Hall, GRDC grower relations manager – north, Rebecca Raymond and DPI principal plant breeder Merrill Ryan inspect a trial plot of the new mungbean varieties, Kookaburra at left and Brolga on the right.

AUSTRALIA’S mungbean industry is set for a major boost with the launch of two new varieties, Brolga and Kookaburra, which offer a game-changing combination of strong performance in disease resistance, seed size, and yield.

The varieties were officially launched on Thursday at the Hermitage Research Facility in Warwick, with co-funders the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the Grains Research and Development Corporation and commercial partner Australian Mungbean Association (AMA).

The varieties were developed under the National Mungbean Improvement Program (NMIP), a joint initiative between the QDPI and the GRDC, and assessed for quality and yield against the dominant variety, Jade, which accounts for 70 percent of plantings, as well as Opal, known for its resistance to halo blight.

Thanks to yield improvements and a lift in grain export grade, the QDPI has estimated the new mungbean varieties could boost farmgate profits by 15pc, equating to $55.5 million in a small 80,000-tonne crop year and $83.2M in a larger 120,000t year.

Kookaburra is the industry’s first region-specific variety, suited to key mungbean growing regions of New South Wales and southern Qld.

Compared with Jade, it has yielded higher in these regions, demonstrated improved disease resistance, and has an equal seed size.

A broadly-adapted variety, Brolga, has excelled in its seed size, 8pc larger than Jade as the global benchmark, while also having improved halo blight resistance and higher yields across northern growing regions.

DPI principal plant breeder Merrill Ryan said the varieties “will deliver immediate and lasting benefits to growers, processors, and exporters”.

“It is rare to see so many breeding objectives met in the singular release, or in this case our double release,” Dr Ryan said.

“All three of our project deliverables of improving yield, yield stability and grain quality exist in these very special genetic packages.

“We are super proud of Kookaburra and Brolga, and they will propel the industry forward for many years to come.”

GRDC genetic technologies officer Temitope Jekayinoluwa said the new varieties were “a prime example of the significant advancements” which can be achieved by the NMIP.

“This is the fifth iteration of the NMIP, building on the achievements of previous investments in this field,” Dr Jekayinoluwa said.

AMA president James Hunt.

“The initiative aims to develop and release varieties that have shown superior performance in regional yield trials and disease nurseries across the Northern Grains Region.

“It targets higher yields, consistency, adaptability, and disease resistance, while also ensuring grain quality that meets premium international market standards.”

Marketing benefits

Dr Ryan said the varieties had also performed well in blind tests with processors and exporters.

She said in two of the three years the varieties were evaluated, they were “capable of making a higher export grade than current varieties”.

“This is because they have a superior combination of evenness of size, evenness of shape, and evenness of colour.

“This may prove to buffer price returns to growers in seasons when grain quality has been impacted by less-than-ideal harvest conditions.”

Future research opportunities

Dr Ryan said Kookaburra also offered exciting opportunities for future research, due to its “new multi-branching pattern with thick, strong, lower branches”.

She said the variety demonstrated great resilience last year at Warra, between Dalby and Miles on the western Downs, with “the high pod load that that resulted when the site experienced over 300mm of in-crop rainfall”.

“Kookaburra was still standing erect when all other varieties had fallen over.

“We are aggressively pursuing this plant architecture in our phenotypic selection as a mechanism for having plants remain upright with large pod loads as we endeavour to increase yield.”

Preparation for 2025-26 release

Mr Hunt said the varieties had “shown great results with the seed increase” and will be available to growers for the 2025-26 season.

“Brolga and Kookaburra are the main focus to get commercial availability for summer 2025-26,” Mr Hunt said.

“Growers should register their interest early with their local AMA members to make sure they have seed earmarked for when it’s available.”

Censeo Field’s Majella Bathurst with Weedsmart northern extension agronomist Paul McIntosh.

Monto grower Jason Larsen, Dave Thompson from Bean Growers Australia and AgForce Grains president Brendan Taylor.

Cotton Grower Services Goondiwindi-based team members Madi Dorrough, Maddy Bide and Archer Finlay.

PB Agrifood’s Ben McIntyre and Andrew Duncan (right) with Chandru Hiremath from Golden Harvest.

AMA executive officer David Pietsch with Leigh Beutel from Deacon Seeds and Select Seeds’ Rob Evans.