Novel genetic variation in domesticated species can be generated to address many of the needs of agricultural production. However, wild genetic resources remain a key resource especially for resistance to environmental stress and may be critical to adaption to climate change. Wild rice populations in Queensland have been found to represent a major untapped gene pool for rice. These species have potential for direct domestication and for use as a source of novel quality (functional and nutritional) and production traits. Recent progress in characterization of genetic resources for other species will also be discussed.
