MONSANTO CORPORATION

6404 Wea Woodland, Lafayette, IN 47905, USA.

Dennis Dunphy, Lafayette, IN and Jane Gue and Paul Johanson, Beijing, China.

Monsanto had initiated a research program with several coöperating Chinese wheat research institute to develop hybrid wheat in China using the Genesis hybridizing agent technology.

Tests were conducted in 1997 with five institutes to evaluate the efficacy of the Genesis CHA, initiate government registration trials, and to produce seed of experimental hybrids. The coöperating institutes in 1997 were China Agricultural University, Beijing; Northwest Agricultural University, Yangling; Henan Agricultural University, Zhangzhou; Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science, Shijiazhuang; and Gansu Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou. For 1998, three additional coöperators were added. These are the Shandong Agricultural University, Taian; Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanjing; and Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Science, Chengdu.

Genesis activity was excellent in 1997. Male sterility was achieved on each of approximately 200 female parents that were treated with Genesis. Seed that was produced by these experimental hybrids will be tested for hybrid yield performance in 1998.