THRACE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
P.O Box 16, Edirne, Turkey.
Metin Babaoglu and Irfan Öztürk.
Wheat research activities in the Thrace region of Turkey.
Turkey is situated in two continents, Asia and Europe.
The mainland, 97 % of the total area, is in Asia and called Anatolia.
The European part is about 3 % of Turkey and is called Thrace.
This region is located in the northwestern part of Turkey. The
total land that is open to farming is about 1,260,000 hectares.
The main crops grown in Thrace are winter cereals (wheat and
barley), sunflower, rice, sugarbeet, onion, and beans. The average
annual rainfall and temperature are 600 mm and 13.4_C, respectively.
The lowest temperature was measured as -22.2_C in January, and
the highest was 40.8_C, measured in August. Although the average
annual rainfall is 600 mm during the growing season (October-July),
the amount of rainfall received varies between 250ñ450
mm from location to location. The distribution of this rainfall
is irregular. In some years, during heading time, which is late
April and May in the region, the rainfall received is insufficient
for grain filling. Because of this fluctuation in rainfall, a
severe drought problem occurs, and grain yield decreases. Besides
drought, some diseases and insect pests also are limiting factors
for grain production. The main diseases are:
ó Leaf rust (Puccinia recondita),
ó Root-crown and foot rots (Helminthosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and other fungi)
ó Powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici)
ó Common bunt (Tilletia spp.)
ó Tan spot (Helminthosporium tritici-repentis)
and other minor diseases.
The main insect pests are:
ó Suni bug (Eurygaster spp.) and
ó Wheat ground bettle (Zabrus spp.)
These are the most destructive insect pests of wheat
that limit production in the region.
The area planted to wheat is about 500,000 hectares
per year, or 5.5 % of the total wheat area of Turkey. The average
wheat yield is about 3.5ñ3.9 tons/ha. When the average
yield of the region is compared to Turkey's average yield of approximately
2.1ñ2.2 tons/ha, the importance of the wheat crop for the
region can be seen. The region also produces 1.5ñ2.0 million
tons of wheat grain per year.
The status previous to research activities.
Years before the initiation of research activities, landraces
such as Karakylcyk, Karababak, Akbabak, and Kosemelez 1718, were
grown widely in the Thrace region. The first three are durum
wheats and the other is a bread wheat. These varieties were too
tall (average 140ñ150 cm.) and susceptible to some diseases.
Because of lodging, disease, and lack of knowledge on growing
wheat, grain yield was very low. Later,the cultivars Etiole de
choisy and Libellula were grown. With these cultivars, the average
grain yield was a little higher.
Until 1970, macaroni wheats were widespread in the
region. The quality of these wheats was good, because environmental
conditions were favorable for producing high-quality, macaroni
wheat grain. Thrace used to be called the best macaroni wheat
area of Turkey. In 1970, with the start of research activities,
the bread wheat cultivar Bezostaja-1 was introduced to the region
from Russia. This cultivar had good quality; higher yield potential;
and better resistance to cold, drought, lodging, and disease than
previous cultivars. Thanks to these characters, this cultivar
was accepted by the farmers in the region and widely grown. After
the introduction of Bezostaja-1, the macaroni wheat area decreased
yearly. Finally, today no macaroni wheat cultivar is grown in
the region.
Wheat research activities in the Thrace region.
Research on wheat in the Thrace region was initiated in 1970.
From 1970 to 1975, only foreign and domestic materials were evaluated
for adaptation to the region. In 1975, crossing was initiated,
and research on wheat has increased rapidly. This research includes
breeding (cutivar development), agronomy, and pathology.
Breeding. Breeding activities
have focused mainly on high yield, good breadmaking quality, wide
adaptation, and resistance to cold and diseases prelevant in the
region. To get a cultivar that has all or some of the characters
mentioned above, two breeding methods are used: introduction and
hybridization.
The introduction method. In this method,
the materials sent by other domestic and foreign research institutions
are tested for grain yield and plant sanitation. Those lines
that are promising are put in preliminary and regional yield trials.
After evaluation, a decision is made as to which one is the best
for the region and whether or not it will be released to farmers.
By this method, several wheat lines and cultivars were introduced
to the region from around the world. Many cultivars were found
to be promising. These cultivars were Orso (Italy); Mv-9, Mv12,
Mv-16, Mv-17, and Othalom (Hungary); Slovanija and Partizanka
(Yugoslavia); Flamura-80 and Flamura-85 (Romania); and Sadovo-1,
Pobeda, Katea-1, and Prostor (Bulgaria). Today, widely grown
cultivars are Katea-1, Mv12, Slovanija, Mv-16, Mv-17, and
Flamura-80.
The hybridization method. With hybridization,
after crossing two parents having desired traits, a pedigree selection
is used in the segregating populations. For this purpose, 100ñ150
crosses are made each year. So far, about 7,000 crosses have
been made. Some of the materials in the crossing block come from
around the world. These materials are provided annually by CIMMYT,
ICARDA, and other foreign institutions. Thanks to this method,
the cultivars, Tunca-79, Kyrkpynar-79, Murat-I, Pehlivan, and
Saroz-95 were developed and released.
Agronomy. Determining
optimum planting date, seeding, and fertilizer rates has been
the main interest concerning agronomy. The results of research
on cultural practices have shown that the optimum planting date
in the Thrace region is the 1-month period between 15 October
and 15 November. Five hundred seeds/sq m and 120 kg N/ha have
been found sufficient for optimum grain yield.
Pathology. Screening
for wheat lines resistant to common bunt, leaf rust, and root
and foot-rot diseases was initiated several years ago. In this
project, all the lines bulked in the homozygous F populations
are tested for the diseases mentioned above.
INTERNATIONAL WINTER WHEAT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
P.K. 39 Emek 06511 Ankara, Turkey.
H.-J.Braun1, A.I. Morgounov, H. Ketata2, S.P.S.Beniwal, L. Cetin3, H. Ekiz, V.Eser, M. Kambertay, M. Keser,N. Zencirci.
1CIMMYT, 2ICARDA, and 3Cereals Improvement Program,
Turkey.
The International Winter Wheat Improvement Program
(IWWIP) was established in Turkey in 1986 to enhance winter and
facultative wheat germplasm for west Asia and north Africa (WANA)
and for other regions of the developing world where this crop
is important. The program is a joint venture between the Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Republic of Turkey), CIMMYT,
and ICARDA. The IWWIP annually distributes the FAWWON to cooperators
worldwide. The nursery includes elite germplasm from the IWWIP,
CIMMYT-Mexico, `Winter x Spring' Program at Oregon
State University (USA), and entries submitted by other breeding
programs for international testing. Elite yield trials for irrigated
and rainfed conditions, consisting of 25 entries each, are distributed
to cooperators in west Asia, north Africa, and central Asia.
FAWWON (Facultative and Winter Wheat Observation Nursery) and germplasm distribution.
The results of the 3rd and 4th FAWWON were analyzed
and compiled into a report that was printed and distributed to
cooperators in March of 1995 and 1996, respectively. One highlight
from the joint Turkey/CIMMYT/ ICARDA program is that germplasm
selected in Turkey is well adapted to the immediate target area
in west Asia and north Africa. This is a more facultative type
of environment where winters in the majority of the wheat-growing
area are relatively mild. However, many advanced lines from the
IWWIP are winter tender when tested in areas with more severe
winters, as shown by winter survival data from the Great Plains
of the US and the Ukraine. Furthermore, resistance to powdery
mildew and Septoria spp. is insufficient, thus limiting
the adaptation to true winter and/or high rainfall areas. Including
introduced germplasm into the FAWWON is extremely useful, providing
cooperators in these areas with access to a broader genetic variation.
A number of superior lines were identified in the 3rd FAWWON
that combine wide adaptation with good general-disease resistance
(i.e., `PYN/BAU', `PYN/BOW', `Vorona/Opata').
The 5th FAWWON, consisting of 210 entries, was distributed to
170 cooperators in July 1995. Beginning this year, field books
were sent along with the quality data (protein content, SDS sedimentation,
HMWglutenin bands, test weight, 1,000-kernel weight, grain
color) to help cooperators make appropriate selections.
Cultivars released in Turkey during 1995.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Released by Type Name Cross Pedigree
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Eskisehir WBW Sultan 94 Agri/Nac SWM6599-2H-1H-3P-0P-5M-3WM-0WM
WBW Kirgiz 95 Domanic/Au
Izmir SBW Kasifbey 95 Pfau CM38212-I-7Y-2M-1Y-3M-2Y-0M
SBW Basribey95 Kauz CM67458-4Y-1M-3Y-1M-2Y-0B
Adana SB Seyhan 95 Kauz CM67458-4Y-11M-3Y-1M-5Y-0B
Diyarbakir SDW Harran 95 Korifla//D.S-15/Geiger CD.523-3Y-1Y-2M-0Y
SDW Ceylan 95 Stork `S'/Rabi `S' L.0608-0L-1AP-2AP-2AP-0AP
Ankara WDW C-1252
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
*WBW=winter bread wheat; SBW = spring bread wheat;
SDW = spring durum wheat; and WDW = winter durum wheat.
The following crosses showed high yield under irrigated and rainfed conditions at locations in Turkey and Syria:
PJ/HN4//GLL/3/SERI
SN64//SKE/2*ANE/3/SX/4/BEZ/5/SERI
DYBR86.1/CHAM6
CO724377/NAC//SERI
BHR/*5/AGA//SNI/3/TRK13
TX71A1039-V1*3/AMI/3/BEZ/NAD//KZM
HN7/OROFEN//BJN8/3/SERI
HATUSHA/KAUZ//TRK13
SXL/VEE//TRK13
ATAY/GALVEZ87
LOV26//LFN/SDY/3/SERI/4/FDL494
Yellow rust has become the most important disease
in the region since virulence for Yr9 occurred and is particularly
damaging in the spring wheat areas of southeast Turkey and in
Iran. The epidemic was partly due to the unusually high winter
and spring rainfalls. Yields of susceptible cultivars were reduced
by up to 60 %, and in some areas, because of shriveling, no grain
at all was harvested. This situation should improve as seed of
resistant cultivars becomes available (see Table 1).
The situation in the winter wheat areas is not as
dramatic (yet). Virulence for Yr9 was found in all winter
wheat-growing areas of Turkey and Iran, but severe infestation
was observed only in eastern Turkey and northern Iran (see Table
1). On the Central Anatolian Plateau, yellow rust was not found
in farmers' fields. Based on data from a trap nursery,
the following genes were found to be effective:
Table 1. Virulence for Yr genes in eastern Turkey and northern Iran. Data from L. Cetin and Dr. F. Dusunceli, CFCRI-Ankara.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Location Yr genes studied
________________________________ _______________________________
No. Effective No. Ineffective
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Ankara, Sakarya, 15 1, 3V, 10, St-dc, SuxOm, 9+ 5 9, 2, 7, 6, A+(So)
Diyarbakir 4+, 7+, 6+, 3N, 8, CV,
Sp. pr., 2+, 5
Adana 161, 6, 3V, 10, St. dc., SuxOm, 4 9, 2, 7, A+
9+, 4+, 7+, 6+, 3N, 8, CV,
Sp. pr., 2+, 5
Erzurum 11 1, 7, 3V, 9+, 7+, 8, CV, 8 6, 10, St. dr., SuxOm,4+,
Sp. Pr., 2+, A+, 5 6+, 3N, 9 (Yr2 Noplant)
All 9 1, 3V, 9+, 7+, 8+, CV, 2 9, 2
Sp. pr., 2+, 5
__________________________________________________________________________________________
In Iran, more than 25 different races of yellow
rust were identified. (Torabi, SPII Karaj, personal communication).
Collaboration with Newly Independent States of the former USSR.
Central Asian Republics.
Breeders from the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program
visited wheat breeding programs in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,
and Kyrgyzstan. The Governments of the Newly Independent States
of Central Asia give high priority to self sufficiency in food,
thus, emphasizing wheat production and breeding. All the countries
have long-established breeding programs that now face lack of
funds and suffer from isolation from the wheat breeding community.
New contacts were established, and germplasm exchange was initiated.
Table 2 provides wheat acreage and some other information about
wheat breeding in central Asian and Transcaucasian countries.
The contact addresses are provided for those of the wheat research
community who are interested in establishing contacts with wheat
scientists from these countries.
Table 2. Wheat breeding statistics from countries of central Asia and Transcaucasia.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Country Wheat area in million ha1 Breeding Constraints
__________________ __________________ _________________
WW/FW SW irrigated rainfed programs abiotic biotic
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Uzbekistan 1.2 0.10 1.00 0.35 2 drought YR
Kazakhstan 1.00 10.00 0.50 10.50 4 drought LR
Turkmenistan2 0.54 0.06 0.60 0.00 1 heat LR
Tadjikistan 0.12 0.08 0.10 0.10 1 drought CB
Kyrgyzstan2 0.30 0.05 0.30 0.05 1 drought LR
Armenia 0.12 0.06 0.18 0.00 2 drought LS
Azerbaidjan 0.70 0.00 0.56 0.14 1 ó LR
Georgia 0.17 0.03 0.05 0.15 3 drought CB
______________________________________________________________________________________
1 Data presented by NARS representatives at the workshop `Assessment of Research and Seed Production
Needs in Dryland Agriculture in the Newly Independent Republics of Central and West Asia', Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, 5ñ10 Dec., 1995.
2 Data obtained through personal communication.
Research Institute of Grain Production, Gallyaoral, Djizak reg., 704620 Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan Academy of Agricurtural Sciences, 79 Ablaikhan Prospekt, Almaty, 480091 Kazakhstan.
Institute of Land Use, Jumaev St., Annau Ashkhabad Reg., Turkmenistan.
Institute of Crop Production, P. Sharora, Gissar Reg., Tadjikistan.
Institute of Agronomy, 91 T. Frunze St., Bishkek, 720759 Kyrgyzstan.
Institute of Agronomy, Echmiadzin 378310 Armenia.
Armenian Agricultural University, 74 Terian St., Erevan, 375200 Armenia.
Institute of Crop Production, Sovkhoz 2, p. Pirshagi, Baku, 370098 Azerbaidjan.
Georgian Breeding Station, p/o Natachtari, Mtskheta,
383400 Georgia.
Russia and Ukraine. In June, two workshops were held at Krasnodar, Russia, and Mironovsk, Ukraine. The workshops were attended by wheat and barley scientists from the two countries, scientists from Turkey, CIMMYT, and ICARDA. The main objective was to introduce each other to relevant breeding activities and identify constraints and fields for future collaboration. Germplasm exchange was intensified, and screening of advanced lines from the IWWIP for winterhardiness under Ukrainian conditions has been initiated.
Publications.
Braun H-J, Aydin M, and Kalayci M. 1995. Variation
of grain filling of 54 facultative and winter wheats grown on
the Central Anatolian Plateau of Turkey. In: Proc 20th
Hard Red Winterwheat Conf, Oklahoma City, OK, USA, Jan 25-27,
1995. Poster presentation.
Braun H-J, Rajaram S, and van Ginkel M. 1995. CIMMYT's
approach to breeding for wide adaptation. In: Proc XIV
EUCARPIA Conf Adapatation in Plant Breeding. Jyvaskyla 31.7-4.8.
Oral presentation.
Galiba G, Quarrie SA, Sutka J, Morgounov A, Snape
JW. 1995. RFLP mapping of the vernalization (Vrn1) and
frost resistance (fr1) genes on chromosome 5A of wheat.
Theor Appl Genet 90:1174-1179.
Rajaram S, Braun H-J, and van Ginkel M. 1995. CIMMYT's
approach to breed for drought tolerance. In: Proc XIV
EUCARPIA Conf Adapatation in Plant Breeding. Jyvaskyla 31.7-4.8.
Oral presentation.
Singh RP, Morgounov A, and J. Huerta-Espino J. 1995.
Genes conferring low seedling reaction to Mexican pathotypes
of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici, and adult-plant
responses of recent wheat cultivars from the former USSR. Euphytica
81:225-234.