The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) collaborates on wheat(Triticum sp.) genetic resources with other international centers and national programs to support improvement of bread wheat(T aestivum L. em Thell.), durum wheat(T turgidum L.) and triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack). CIMMYT's wheat collection currently is about 120 000 accessions. Collection activities are focused on areas where few or no collections have been made. The acquisition of obsolete cultivars is of particular interest. A comprehensive data base, the International Wheat Information System, is being developed; it is a seamless system that includes all aspects of wheat information, from germplasm conservation to breeding, testing, and release. Evaluation is driven mainly by the needs of breeding programs. Prebreeding and use of parental species in expanding the genetic base of wheat are important functions. In this chapter, international approaches to germplasm evaluation and enhancement, breeding, and use of existing wheat networks are proposed. International free flow of germplasm is essential to continued worldwide progress and sustainability in wheat improvement.

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WP|R95PROCE|3

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection