Abstract only

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Afghanistan is grown on about 2.5 m ha, which is about 80% of the area cultivated under all cereals. Constraints to production include lack of irrigation for about 50% of the area, diseases (including rusts) and above all, the potential threat stem rust race Ug99. The Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) has released four Ug99- resistant wheat varieties viz., Baghlan 09, Kaushan 09, Muqawim 09 and Chonte #1. In 2010 a mere 176 tonnes of certified Ug99-resistant varieties were available for Afghan farmers. For this reason sources in Egypt were approached for Ug99 resistant variety Misr-1, which had been released in Afghanistan by the name Muqawim 09. This genotype appeared in the 2nd Elite Bread Wheat Yield Trial (EBWYT) during 2006 and was tested across Afghanistan during 2006-07 to 2008-09 with an average yield potential of 5.8 tonnes per ha and released in 2009. The Field Crop Research Institute (FCRI) of Egypt provided 150 tonnes of registered seed. The seed production system involving ISE (improved Seed Enterprise) is multiplying the variety and expects to produce an estimated 2,482 tonnes of certified seed for the 2011-12 crop season. This intervention result in sufficient seed to supply about 9 % of the total certified seed for the next crop season.

Global Wheat Program

English

Lucia Segura

INT0599|INT2733|INT3065