CIMMYT
P.O.Box 374, Almaty 480000 Kazakhstan.
Alex Morgounov and Muratbek Karabayev.
CIMMYT's new regional office for central Asia and the Caucasus opened in 1999, after a number of consultations in the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) defining its strategy towards the region. In 1998, a collaborative CGIAR program was launched for the region providing opportunities for international centers to work here. However, CIMMYT's involvement in the region dates back to 1993-94 when winter wheat germ plasm exchange with the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (Turkey-CIMMYT-ICARDA) was initiated through the CIMMYT office in Turkey. These first efforts later evolved into the development of a regional winter wheat improvement network with extensive exchange of germ plasm and scientists.
The region of central Asia and Caucasus grows around 15 million ha of wheat. The agroecology of the region divides it into two distinct environments. The winter wheat region has some 5 million ha of autumn-planted winter or facultative wheat, and covers the southern part of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in Asia and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in the Caucasus. Wheat in the region is primarily irrigated and has high yield potential, which is not manifested at present due to lack of inputs, outdated machinery, and poor irrigation practice. The second environment in the north of Kazakhstan with some 10 million ha is dominated by rain-fed spring wheat that normally is planted in May and harvested in August. Wheat is almost a monocrop, and the region is prone to drought. Average yield is around 1 t/ha. This environment is somewhat similar to the prairies of Canada.
The objectives of CIMMYT program for central Asia and the Caucasus are to improve wheat production in a sustainable manner through the development and promotion of better varieties and technologies and to improve the efficiency of wheat research through better focused research agenda, enhanced research capacity, better communication, and information.
The following activities and projects are currently underway:
Winter Wheat Improvement Network for Central Asia and Caucasus (CAC-WWINET). The WWINET was established in 1999 during the regional travelling workshop in Turkey and aims to foster regional coöperation among wheat breeders dealing with winter wheat. The participants of the network agreed to exchange germ plasm and the first nursery was formed and planted in the autumn of 1999. The network collaborates with the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (Turkey-CIMMYT-ICARDA), with ICARDA-Syria, CIMMYT-Mexico, and advanced research institutions. The anticipated activities of this network include publication of a newsletter, training courses, meetings, and structured germ plasm evaluation.
Kazakhstan-Siberian Network for Spring Wheat Improvement. This group aims to unite breeders developing varieties for the harsh, rain-fed environment of northern Kazakhstan and Siberia. Two regional nurseries were prepared for planting in spring of 2000, one observation nursery for bread wheat and one for durum wheat. They will be planted in 10 locations. Evaluations of these nurseries for disease resistance will be made in Mexico and southern Kazakhstan. Several reviews are under preparation describing agronomic practices and environmental constraints.
Establishment of shuttle breeding program with CIMMYT-Mexico for day-length sensitive spring wheat. Traditionally, CIMMYT wheat germ plasm was adapted poorly to long days, and shuttle breeding has been established to combine the drought tolerance and end-use quality of Kazakh and Siberian wheats with the resistance and broad adaptation of CIMMYT germ plasm. The best spring wheat varieties from the region are crossed and backcrossed in Mexico and advanced to F3-F4 under long days and with selection pressure for disease resistance and plant type. The resulting populations are sent to north Kazakhstan and Siberia for selection for adaptation, and the resulting lines are sent again to Mexico for recycling in breeding. The key locations in the region are Shortandy in north Kazakhstan and Omsk in Siberia. Breeding programs from Canada or the U.S. with similar agroecology are anticipated to be involved in the shuttle.World Bank project 'Improvement of productivity, sustainability, and profitability of the wheat sector in Kazakhstan'. The project, being implemented jointly with the National Academic Center of Agricultural Research (NACAR), conducts on-farm trails and demonstrations in five locations to promote viable technology options. The project also is involved in local and international training of Kazakh scientists and revision of the wheat research system for the country.
GTZ project 'Revitalization of cereals breeding, variety testing and breeder's seed production in Tajikistan'. Implemented by CIMMYT, this project is an essential attempt to assist this country to establish wheat supply after a devastating civil war. The project emphasizes multilocational testing to identify the best wheat varieties suitable for Tajikistan, providing machinery and equipment for breeding, and seed production and training.
Regional and international training is a high priority for the program, and some courses are conducted jointly with ICARDA. Annually, an English language course is organized in the CIMMYT office in Almaty for promising scientists who later will train abroad. Eight breeders attended the wheat improvement course at CIMMYT headquarters in Mexico. Several regional courses on utilization of computers in breeding were organized, and necessary hardware was provided. Study visits to Mexico and the U.S. were organized.
Several important regional and national conferences and workshops were supported: Conservation Tillage: Viable Options for Central Asia, September, 1999, Kazakhstan (proceedings available); Diversification of Cereals Based Cropping Systems in Eurasia, July, 1999, Kazakhstan (proceedings available); and Improvement of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension in Azerbaijan, March, 1999, Azerbaijan.
The CIMMYT program for central Asia and the Caucasus is very new and seeks collaborators internationally to address issues relevant to wheat production in the region. Wheat researchers are encouraged to communicate.
The agricultural research libraries in the region are poorly funded and lack research literature in English. Donations of back issues of scientific journals and reference and research literature will be highly appreciated.
Alex Morgounov (amorgounov@astel.kz ), formerly winter wheat breeder with CIMMYT-Turkey was transferred to CIMMYT office in Almaty in July, 1999, to assume the responsibility of Regional Wheat Breeder for central Asia and Caucasus. Muratbek Karabayev (mkarabayev@astel.kz), formerly Deputy Director of Kazakh National Biotechnology Center is the CIMMYT representative for Kazakhstan.
KAZAKH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE
Erlepesov str. 12, v. Almalybak, Kaskelen distr., Almaty, reg., 483133, Kazakhstan.
R. Urazaliev and A. Kokhmetova.
Kazakhstan is the greatest grain-growing country in the central Asian region, producing seeds and markatable grain not only for internal consumption but also for export. New varietal development and their rapid multiplication are important tasks for crop breeders and scientists. The main criterion for development of new varieties is a combination of high-yield ability, resistance to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses, and high grain quality. Such varieties are able to use limited amounts of water, fertilizer, and pesticides and to provide sustainable food. This problem can be solved jointly using conventional breeding and modern achievements of genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and biotechnology at all stages of variety development. The most effective methods of wheat breeding, according to our extensive investigations, are selecting constant lines from hybrid-derived, variety populations; hybridizing and obtaining different crossbred combinations under diverse crossing schemes and selections (diallel, backcross, topcross, directed polycross, double-cross, composite, complex step-by-step, and their modifications); experimental mutagenenisis (physical and chemical, under the obligatory combination of it with hybridization); obtaining intravarietal somaclonal diversity using of biotechnological methods; and cell breeding.
Initial material. More than 100 varieties of winter and spring, common and durum wheat, 3,000 samples from the world collection and our institute's gene bank, and wild species of wheat were studied. After evaluation of the material by visual, immunological, biochemical, and technological means, genetic crosses were made and parallel tested in contrasting ecological zones.
Selection of productivity markers traits. The quantitative characters of wheat yield are subject to the environment to a great extent. After a thorough study of their variability levels, we selected plant height, number of spikelets/spike, and spike length as the traits that are necessary to use for wheat breeding in the conditions of southern Kazakhstan.
Breeding for bread-baking quality. Material is evaluated on the basis of the indices of quality for grain and flour, i.e., protein concentration, kernel hardness, flour yield, flour ash, dough mixing time, flour absorption, crumb color, and loaf volume. Biochemical and molecular markers, gliadins, and glutenins have been used to select for bread-making quality. Local varieties were used to study genetic variability in the storage proteins.
Breeding for tolerance to frost. Heritability of the frost-resistance index was studied, and valuable varieties were determined. Frost-resistant genotypes were evaluated in the field; by direct freezing in chamber; by control of free proline accumulation in frost-stressed seedlings; and using the gliadin protein markers (Gli-D1 (Gld 1D 5), Gli-1A (Gld 1A 1), Gli-B1 (Gld 1B 2), Gli-A2 (Gld 6A 3), and Gli-D2 (Gld 6D 2) linked to frost resistance. Some of these proteins are present in our varieties Karlygash, Progress, Bogarnaya 56, Zhetsy, Mariam, and Darhan.
Breeding for disease resistance. Stem, leaf, and yellow rusts; common bunt; loose smut; and Septoria leaf spot fungi are the most widespread pathogens in our region. After analyzing hybrid populations of wheat, we found that the varieties Avrora 13, Zernokormovaya, Opaks 18, and Taza can be used as donors of complex resistance to three species of rust.
Agroecotypes of varieties developed at our institute.
Varieties for irrigated areas include those with stem heights
between 85-95 cm, coupled with resistance to lodging and a high
level of productivity. Progress, Zhetsu, and Darhan are such varieties.
Dry, steppe-type varieties are characterized as semi-intensive,
tolerant to heat and drought, and highly adaptive to arid zones.
These varieties are early maturing types with frost resistance
during sprouting and in the seedling stage, and single-, more
rarely two-, stemmed plants. The qualities of grain, flour, and
bread are stable and high. Varieties of this type are Bogarnaya
56, Opaks 1, Steklovidnaya 24, Tolkyn, Zhalyn, and Aruana. Highland-type
varieties are mid- or mid-to-early maturity types, resistant to
damping off, tolerant to snow blight, steady grain fillers, and
resistant to preharvest sprouting. Almatinskaya polukarlikovaya
is a variety of this type.
INSTITUTE OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, GENETICS AND BIOENGINEERING
Laboratory of Physiological Genetics of Plants, Timiryazev str. 45, Almaty, 480090, Kazakhstan.
A. Kokhmetova.
The main challenge facing the breeder for improved adaptation of wheat in Kazakhstan is increasing yield and drought resistance. Most of the wheat-growing regions in Kazakhstan are characterized by moisture deficiency. Our goal is to study the influence of some morphological traits on drought resistance and to develop new germ plasm adapted to drought-prone conditions.
Genes controlling hairiness (Hg) and color (Rg) of the glumes are known to influence plant morphology and development. Until the present time, we lacked the quantitative evidence concerning the influence of these genes on drought resistance. Ten NILs of winter wheat lacking the alleles Hghg and Rgrg were studied. The local, drought-resistant variety Bogarnaya-56 was used as a source of the dominant Hg Rg genes. Near-isogenic lines were developed using a '5 x 5' complete diallel set. The female parents were pollinated with the recurrent parents for five generations.
After the BC5, F4:F8 NILs with HgRg and rghg genotypes were selected. Experimental material was grown and evaluated at three locations under both favorable and stressed conditions. Favorable conditions included fertilizing and two supplementary irrigations to simulate a 400-mm overall rainfall. Stressed conditions for low rainfall were 200-300 mm of water. Analysis of the 'G x E' interaction was based on Tai (1971). Drought resistance was estimated by calculating a drought-susceptibility index for yield according to Fisher and Maurer (1978). An analysis of variance was made for each test. Of all sources of variation, the genotype, environment, and 'G x E' mean squares were highly significant (P = 0.01) for all traits of productivity. We found that the NILs with the HgRg (hairiness and red glume) genotype had an advantage over the hgrg (hairless and white glume) genotype for most of the productivity traits. The dominant alleles Hg and Rg are superior in all environments, which indicates a high adaptation compared to the recessive alleles hg and rg.
The analysis of field-test data for drought susceptibility index showed an advantage of the dominant over recessive alleles, especially under conditions of severe drought. This study identified eight NILs that were passed on to our National Gene Bank as a donors with high adaptability. A number of promising lines of wheat for further breeding on drought resistance also were included.
References.