Latest News

Gatton Expo 2024

Queensland put on another great few days of weather for the Gatton Expo held in Mid-June. Growers were able to walk through the sites from many seed companies and compare new and existing material. For Australis it was a great trial - we placed a number of advanced lines in baby Broccoli, Baby leaf Pak Choi (Red and Green) as well as bulking lines such as Mizuna. There were new Red Mizuna a Red Pak Choi with red on both sides of the leaf as well and new Red Kale and leaf mustard for baby Leaf. We had great feedback and now will run to production on a number of lines.

Gatton 23 Highlights

Queensland weather has been particularly kind this year and presented us with a lettuce trial that was outstanding.

Visited this year by a number of growers and international companies our Australian bred and selected lettuce are showing excellent competitive characteristics. There is now a good range of commercial, re-commercial and rather unique products in the range. there were more than 450 selections, of which 40 advanced to pre - commercial lines. Included in these new selections were Mini gen lettuce, mini-Cos in green and red, medium to large Romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce and of course multileaf material in red and green for baby leaf growers. Testing for disease resistance is currently being undertaken for the new lines but many will be well presented with high levels of DM resistance. Get in touch and ask what may be available to look at.

Field Days in April 2023 - time to start supporting local breeding 

In April this year we are proud to be Gold sponsors for the Horticultural  Innovation Days field displays at Catani in S.E Victoria. Only about 1km as the Crow flys from our research Farm we have decided to expand our display of primarily Australian Bred leafy greens, lettuce and Micro Greens at our Own farm at 1800 Main Drain , Vervale. (go to our contact page for address and google maps location) Most growers will pass us to get the Catani Site but we feel a short stop will be worth while for all concerned as we are currently expanding the breeding programs and grower input will result with Locally bred and conditioned material ready for grower use in our climate and conditions. While our now every growing lettuce assortment is being distributed by SPS in Australia and new Zealand, Baby broccoli, some Asian greens such as Kailaan and cauliflower are available direct to growers.

Our Site will contain new Wild Rocket, Lettuce, Mizuna(Red and Green), Kale, Pak Choi to name a few.

All welcome on the 27th and 28th of April or by special arrangement.

Australia's only baby leaf and lettuce breeding company.

Baby Leaf mustard variety improvement

Australis Seed Company is currently releasing new mustard varieties for trial through South Pacific seeds in Australia. The assortment is increasing t6o include ore red Mizuna, green mizuna in different forms including a spiky leaf version with great regrowth capacity and also Kale variations with curly early-stage leaf for baby leaf harvest.

Innovation in Breeding shows new exciting directions.

2023 has seed some great new generations of stable lines of Kale crosses that are designed for baby leaf use. Hairless, dark red in color with indented leaf that stands out. These selections are currently being increased for grower trials but so far look very impressive. The dark color is also present at very early stages which also shows application as a micro green.

Available in late 2023 for grower trials this material should open some opportunity to increase the value and health return for consumers.

Baby Leaf Green Program showing Australian selections are winners

7 Years of breeding and selection in the Baby Leaf green area is starting to pay dividends. Incorporating some more unique breeding techniques we have been able to increase leaf thickness and over all yield by an average of 20% but almost 50% in some varieties. This is no mean feat but from a growers point of view the yield increase, intensity of color are highly sort after traits.

The new 2021 selections are showing some excellent potential with new leaf shapes and color variations starting to be more prominent. 

BREEDER SELECTION TRIAL - GATTON JULY 2021 Exciting times!

Breeding lettuce selection well underway in the Lockyer Valley. selections were made over a 4 week period and plants marked and set up for seed production. Over 300 single plant7 selections have been made this season in lettuce varying from Mini to Iceberg types. The next  southern ( Victorian trial went into the ground in early October) will be ready just before Christmas. we will ask for growers interested in looking for what is new and help set the direction will be welcomed.

Lockyer Valley  Growers  Field  Day 2021

Not withstanding a lower attendance due to Covid 19 restrictions, the open days at Gatton on the 6th and 7th of June ere a resounding success.

11 seed companies/ distributors were displaying the latest in vegetable varieties along with a number of associated companies supplying everything from tractors to Drones for farming.  At the Australia seed Company block we were displaying for the first time a number of new lettuce from our Australian Based Breeding program along with Wild Rocket and Baby Leaf items that are all new introductions to the Australian market. in fact these products have been developed for the Australian market and they will be offered here in Australia first.

 Of interest were the Red Multileaf lettuce, some suited for Whole head and others for direct sowing. These lettuce were distinct due to the intense red color that had them standing out from other companies. On display were also a number of products that were suitable for "Vertical Farming" 

Vertical farming options are available in Mizuna, Mustards and some selected lettuce varieties.

For further inquires please contact us.

Gippsland Field Day

Wow, has time just flown by. The last Gippsland field day in May was a smash hit for us and the new Spinach varieties that we have been working on for the last couple of years... Our new introduction of Lettuce Legacy - the dark green mini cos that just so stands out it cant be missed and our new red beet named Tripleready, easily the most uniform deep red coloured leafed beet for baby leaf production.

Honeydews making a splash overseas

Its no surprise that when you ask  one of the best melon breeders in the world to take over your melon program a few things might change. Well it has not taken long and we are starting to see the emergence of a new Melon range from Australis starting with Honeydew melon. Testing overseas of a number of new Hybrids has shown at least 2 and most likely 3 honeydews are set to fly. The First two, one names already as "Bounty" and the other as its code H 104 have been placed on production increases as the melons perform very well overseas.