Availability of short stature winter wheat varieties combining high yield with good bread- making properties and resistance to major wheat diseases is essential for complete utilization of the potential of irrigated lands and achieving yield growth. For this purpose, breeding research has been carried out on irrigated plots of the Tartar Testing Station of Agriculture. By 200 I, more than 1000 lines were selected and planted on 2 m2 plots for breeding assessment. While evaluating these lines, a special attention was paid to plant height and susceptibility to yellow rust, since high spread of the disease has been observed lately. Therefore, the disease notes were taken 3 times: in late April, in the middle and end of May. Without considering other traits, the lines with susceptible reaction to yellow rust (MS or S) and with plant height exceeding 110 cm were discarded. As a result of the assessment, only 100 winter wheat entries were identified and advanced to the next-year evaluation stage. In 2002, they were planted on separate plots of 10m2. Yield per plot was also measured and used in screening together with other traits, which resulted in selection of26 promising lines. The selected 26 lines were included in the control nursery and planted on 50 m2 -plots in two replications. The three-year data suggests that almost all lines (not including 3 of them) demon- strated stable resistance to yellow rust. Susceptibility to powdery mildew scored 1-2, While that to Helminthosporium scored 1-3. The most valuable lines were found to be 097066/2-4, 09209/ 6-2,09205/3,09204/4-1 ,09859/3-2 that outyielded the standard variety by 1.73-2.95 t/ha yielding between 7.23 and 8.45 t/ha. The authors recom- mend the selected lines be used in crosses to develop wheat varieties with high resistance 10 lodging, yellow rust and grain yield.

English

0407|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection