The varieties — Brolga and Kookaburra — were developed to provide Queensland growers with improved grain quality and disease resistance.
“Brolga and Kookaburra have the potential to improve grower returns while also enhancing Australia’s strong reputation as a premium supplier of high-quality, large-seeded, green shiny mungbeans into high-value international markets,” said James Hunt, President, Australian Mungbean Association (AMA).
Mungbean is a vital export crop for Queensland, with the industry generating over A$113 million in export revenue in 2023/24.
“These new varieties will help Australia meet its production target of 100,000 tonnes per year. With higher yields, larger seed size, and resistance to halo blight, tan spot, and powdery mildew, Brolga and Kookaburra will deliver immediate and lasting benefits to growers, processors, and exporters,” said Dr Merrill Ryan, DPI principal plant breeder.
The new varieties are expected to enhance Queensland’s position as the leading supplier of premium mungbean to international markets.
“These new lines will enhance the stability of supply, ensuring Queensland continues to meet the growing global demand for high-quality pulses,” said Ryan.
According to Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries, the seeds of these varieties will be made available to growers later this year for the 2026 season. The AMA will act as its commercialising partner.
“The AMA is pleased to be the commercialising partner and looks forward to making these varieties available to growers in the 2025/2026 season through our member network,” said Hunt.
Previously in 2017, the AMA commercialised a new black gram variety, Onyx-AU, to replace Regur, which till then was the only black gram variety available for Australian growers.
In 2020, it launched a new shiny green mungbean variety, Opal-AU, with improved resistance to foliar disease including halo blight and powdery mildew.
Strengthening Australia’s mungbean industry
The development of the two new varieties is in line with AMA’s goals to “develop a well-rounded suite of seed varieties that suit geographical regions, market demands and climate”.
This was outlined in its Strategic Plan for 2022 to 2025 which also aimed to position mungbean as a pillar crop or “summer crop of choice” in Australia.
The new varieties were developed through the National Mungbean Improvement Program (NMIP), a co-investment between the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
This project was part of the joint A$8.3m GRDC-DPI National Mungbean Improvement Program, a breeding initiative which started in 2022.
The focus was on developing varieties that will ensure reliable yields to sustain long-term profitability for growers.
“This latest launch is a prime example of the significant advancements this project continues to make for the industry,” said Temitope Jekayinoluwa, Genetic Technologies Officer, GRDC.
The current NMIP is the fifth iteration of the program and was built on the previous investments and achievements in this field.
“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,” said Jekayinoluwa.
