Hop Breeding
Due to latitudinal differences between traditional growing regions in the northern hemisphere and growing regions in Tasmania and Victoria, hop cultivars developed overseas are rarely commercially viable under Australian conditions (notable exceptions being Cascade, Willamette and Millennium). However, well adapted cultivars bred in Australia are among the most productive (in terms of yield of hops and alpha acid production) in the world. The best known cultivars developed through Australian hop breeding efforts in the past are Pride of Ringwood, Super Pride and Topaz. While Pride of Ringwood and Super Pride are distinctively Australian hops, more recently the notable aroma cultivars Summer Saaz, Southern Saaz and Galaxy have been successfully introduced to the market.
The Australian hop breeding program aims to produce seedless cultivars which can be grown, harvested and processed efficiently and reliably into high quality hop products with quality brewing chemistry and unique flavours. Operating on two sites (Bushy Park, Tasmania; and Rostrevor Hop Gardens, Victoria), we use modern methods of selective plant breeding supported by research (in collaboration with the School of Plant Science at the University of Tasmania, co-funded by HPA and Horticulture Australia Limited) aimed at understanding the inheritance, molecular genetics and physiology of hop growth and chemistry traits. Selections identified on the basis of on “on farm” performance, hop acid and essential oil profiles are then evaluated in collaboration with interested breweries to elucidate their brewing quality and flavour potential.
Recent Publications
Castro CB, Whittock LD, Whittock SP, Leggett G and Koutoulis A. 2008. DNA Sequence and Expression Variation of Hop (Humulus lupulus) Valerophenone Synthase (VPS), a Key Gene in Bitter Acid Biosynthesis. Annals of Botany, 102(2):265-273