20. Borlaug 2016: a high yielding wheat variety for the rainfed/irrigated areas of Pakistan
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Abstract
Drought, heat and rusts are the major stresses of wheat crop in Pakistan that leads to yield losses from almost 30 to 40%. Hence, rusts resistant and climate resilient wheat varieties are needed to exploit the potential yield in the country. The occurrence of the Ug99 race of stem rust in different areas of the world is also a potential threat for Pakistani wheat varieties. Keeping in view the above scenario, scientists at Wheat Program, NARC, Islamabad, conducted this study to develop the wheat variety Borlaug 2016. Borlaug-2016 is a cross of SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU. It was selected from 17th Semi-arid wheat Yield Trial of CIMMYT. It was tested for disease, adaptability, yield and quality traits for two years at station and for one year at regional yield trials. It was also tested at different locations in National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials under both irrigated and rain-fed conditions for two consecutive years and it showed good performance. It carries desirable resistance against all three wheat rusts. It also carries Adult Plant Resistance against stem rust race ‘Ug99’. It has good quality traits that are required for chapatti making.Borlaug-2016 was approved by Punjab Seed Council for cultivation in irrigated areas of Punjab. Hence, as a commercial wheat variety, Borlaug 2016 will help farming community of Pakistan to get increased grain yield with long-lasting rust resistance that will assist to boost their per capita income. It will also be helpful in future breeding programs aimed at rusts resistance and high grain yield in wheat.
Keywords: Crop; Diversity; Irrigated; Nutrition; Wheat; Yield