Abstract only

Since 1997, the Gene Pool Laboratory of the Armenian Agricultural Academy has been regularly receiving winter bread wheat germplasm under a joint cooperation program with CIMMYT. In 1998- 2003, the received material was tested for its adaptation to the mountain-steppe zone of Armenia. The trial incorporated also some local wheat germplasm. Mountain steppe -is the major winter wheat cultivation area in the republic. Dryland farming is presented here. With due regard for agro-climatic conditions of the zone the main objective of the program was to study and assess such traits as: . winter hardiness, drought tolerance in the period of grain filling-maturity, earliness, resistance to rust combined with a number of valuable agronomic traits. All received germplasm (749 winter bread wheat entries was included in an observation nursery and planed at the Tsakhadzor experimental plot (mountain-steppe zone, 1800 m asl). The entries were sown manually according the CIMMYT - proposed pattern, on five-row 2-m long plots with 20 cm between the rows. The seeding rate was 250 seeds/m2. The envisaged observations and analyses were completed according to the methodological requirements proposed for evaluation of the world wheat collections (1984) and recommendations of CIMMYT. The entries were grouped and evaluated according to the international classifier standards (1989). The col1ection included entries with the most diverse combinations of valuable agronomic traits. High-yielding entries (14.8-33.9% higher than check) with improved winter hardiness (BWD, Id380613 and Id3890074) as well as valuable donors of Winter hardiness were revealed. The fol1owing early maturing high-yielding entries that over yielded the checks (Vosckeask and Stephens) by 6.2-53.7% were selected: 2076-W12-11, BWD, Id800994. W/ Kauz, Lov 26/ /Lfn/Sdy, Ks82142/Cupe, Dogu 88/ 885-K4-1, Cleo/Pch/57-0sul, BWdnsn and Saulesku #13 Fourteen valuable short-stature (66-80 cm) and of intermediate height genotypes (81-95 cm) with 7.21-53.7% yield increase and a group of entries resistant to rusts with high yield were identified. Selected were also varieties interesting according to the following agronomic traits: high grain content, high grain weight, strong straw and high number of fertile spikes. Forty one entries out-yielded check variety Voskeask (601 g/m2) by 106-154%. The selected germplasm with valuable traits will be used in breeding programs. In 2001, the selected 41 entries were advanced to the next stage of study. They were planted in three replications on 5 m2 plots with five 5 m-long rows, 20 cm between the rows and at seeding rate of250 seeds/ m2o. The identified 14 varieties were further advanced to the competitive yield trial for comprehensive study of their yield and yield components. Varieties Voskeask and Bezostaya-1 were used as checks. The genotypes were sown in four replications on 25 m2plots with 15 cm between the rows; at the seeding rate of5 million seeds/ha. N3oP 90K60 was applied pre-plant, while N6o kg/ha was top-dressed in spring. Based on the results of the two-year competitive yield trial under rain- fed mountain-steppe conditions Sultan 95, Dogu 88/885-K4-1, Id800994. W /Kauz e Id3890074 were found to be the most promising varieties. Average grain yield produced by Sultan 95, Dogu 88/885-K4-1 Id800994. W /Kauz and Id 3890074 was 6.3 t/ha, 6.5 t/ha, 5.9 t/ha and 5.8 t/ha, respectively. These varieties exceeded check variety Voskeask for as much as 1.2, 1.4,0.8 and 0.7 t/ha, respectively. Taking into consideration the prospects and economic value of new varieties Sultan 95 and Dogu 88/885-K4, they were submitted to State Center for Testing and Protection of Breeding Achievements under the names Erebuni and Voskeask-2, respectively. In 2003, these varieties were planted on a 3 ha field for multiplication and introduction into agricultural production. Our plans include establishment of seed multiplication for Erebuni and Voskeask-2 with the subsequent providing seed to private farms, as well as holding of regional workshops " Agrogitaspyur" for farmers of the area.

English

0409|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection