NSW Department of Primary Industries Deputy Director General Agriculture Kate Lorimer-Ward has congratulated Professor Rudolf ‘Rudi’ Appels on receiving the 2021 Farrer Memorial Medal for his extensive work in wheat genome research.
“Professor Appels’ long and distinguished career in wheat genome research has provided significant agricultural breakthroughs that have benefitted countless growers and the wider agricultural industry,” Ms Lorimer-Ward said.
“It’s fantastic to see his tireless contributions recognised with such a prestigious award.”
Prof. Appels said he was thrilled to learn that his son Dave, with the help of CSIRO colleague Evans Lagudah, had nominated him.
“Dave told me when we were driving back from an appointment and I was chuffed,” Prof. Appels said.
“From that point on it didn’t matter what the outcome was; I’d already won.”
Prof. Appels’ career initially began in animal biology. But in 1977 all of that changed when he and former CSIRO plant researcher and 1999 Farrer Memorial Medal recipient Jim Peacock first isolated wheat DNA.
“From that moment on, I never looked back,” Prof. Appels said.
The award-winning Melbourne resident went on to enjoy a 27-year plant industry research career with CSIRO, and a further 17 years at Murdoch University which included activity on chromosome structure and function in avian red blood cells, Drosophila, subclover, barley, rye and wheat.
“Professor Appels pioneered the analysis of wheat and rye DNA structure and function in Australia with other plant industry colleagues in the late 1970’s, 1980s and 1990’s,” Mr Saunders said.
“This was done to establish new molecular approaches for tracking genetic material in breeding programs; something which significantly benefits growers and developers today.”
Prof. Appels said the crown jewel in his long career had to be his contribution to the wheat genome sequence project where he, along with many others, helped create a roadmap of wheat DNA.
“Now we can see where we’re going (in the DNA structure) and can, for instance, locate a specific chromosome to find the important bits,” Prof. Appels said.
The Farrer Memorial Trust was established in 1911 to perpetuate the memory of Australia’s leading wheat breeder William James Farrer and to encourage and inspire agricultural scientists. Each year the NSW Department of Primary Industries award The Farrer Memorial Medal to a worthy recipient in recognition of distinguished service in agricultural science and contribution to Australia’s cropping industries.
