Abstract only

Growth of winter wheat grain production in Armenia depends on the development of more productive varieties and improvement of their growing practices. The successful development of input- responsive varieties depends on the proper selection of germplasm, which is the essential stage of the breeding process. Along with local old and new breeder varieties, germplasm of various ecgeografical origins (from the AII-Russian R1 of Plant Industry, USA, Mexico, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, as well as from the CIMMYT/ ICARDA nurseries) is used in hybridization. All this contributes to the obtaining of more variable germplasm, providing for wider selection opportunities. Since 1998, we have received numerous entries from CIMMYT and ICARDA, which are studied at the Merzavan zonal experimental station of the Research Center of Agriculture and Plant Protection using the methodology developed by the All-Russian RI of Plant Industry. Variety samples were studied on plots being 2 m in width, 25 m in length, with the disposal of check varieties (Bezostaya 1 and Armyanka: 60) after every 20 numbers, and with the inter-row distance being equal to 20 cm. Phenological observations and biometric measurements were carried out. Under laboratory conditions, yield components (spike length and weight, grain number and weight per spike, 1000-grain-weight, spike density ) were analyzed, grain qual ity in terms of size, plumpness and vitreousness was visually assessed. 1500 entries of winter bread wheat from 17 nurseries of CIMMYT/ICARDA were investigated. In the course of the performed work it was found that among the studied varieties there were varieties characterized bya number of valuable traits and qualities. In particular, they were early maturing, short-stature, resistant to fungal diseases, drought- tolerant, with high percentage of kernels in the spike and number productive spikes. Out of 1500 entries, 270 were selected, which excel1ed the check varieties in the agronomic traits. The entries distinguished by higher number of spikes with high percentage of kemels per spikes and large-sized grains included the following entries 318,343, 344,356, and 357 from nursery 2 WWONSA, # 22,33, and 46 from nursery 3 WWEFRYT,#.II, 113,118, 145 and 170 from RBWYT -LR/CA, # 12,34, 48,58,59, 61, 64, 67 and 76 from CAS, # 23 WON-DA, and # I, 4, 19,31,38,45, and47 from RBWWYT-MRA. The hybridization program involved 44 entries from collection nurseries and 4 entries from the quality nursery. The produced hybrids are being tested in the selection nursery. For three years, 12 lines from various nurseries have been tested in the check nursery. Once their evaluation is over, they will be advanced to the next stage -the preliminary replicated competitive trial aimed at selecting promising varieties to be introduced into production. One sample of sub-variety Graecum from nursery 3 WWONSA (# 485) has been planted for multiplication.

English

0408|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection