Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in Turkish agriculture with 9.5 million ha acreage, 20 million tons production and 2.1 t/ha average yield. Turkish highlands that are characterised with severe cold winter and terminal droughts cover nearly 35-40% wheat acreage (Donmez, 2002). Two bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Bezostaja-l and Gerek- 79 are predominantly cultivated in the region. Bezostaja- 1 is quality check of hardred bread wheat varieties, while Gerek- 79 is one of the most drought-resistant and high- yielding soft-white standard cultivar for the wheat breeding program and variety registration trials in Central Anatolia and Transitional Zones. However, Gerek- 79 is susceptible to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) under greenhouse and mist- irrigated field trials while Bezostaja-l is susceptible to zinc deficiency and drought. With the purpose of replacing Bezostaja-l and Gerek- 79, the Central Research Institute for Field Crops has developed a number of new red and white grain bread wheat varieties through its wheat- breeding program during the last decade. Among them are varieties resistant to yellow rust and tolerant to drought, such as Ykizce-96, Myzrak-98, Yakar- 99, Bayraktar -2000 and Demir-2000. Results of the variety registration trials conducted at ten locations of Central Anatolia and Transitional zones during the last three years have shown that Bayraktar-2000 (soft-white) and Demir- 2000 (hard-red) can successfully replace Gerek- 79 and Bezostaja-l in the targeted areas in the near future due to their yield advantage, yellow rust resistance and desirable quality characteristics.

English

0408|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection