Items from Kyrgystan.

The total wheat production area of Kyrgyzstan is estimated at 400,000 ha and occupies about one-fifth of the total arable land of the country. Thirty-five percent of the wheat areas are rain-fed and cultivated under semiarid and arid conditions. In these areas, wheat germ plasm with vigorous vegetative growth during the spring, a short grain-filling period, early maturity, and high grain yield are required. To ensure yield stability, the wheats must have tolerance to heat and drought and resistance to powdery mildew and yellow rust. Drought is considered the most important abiotic stress. Serious drought during the season results in small and shrivelled seed and a very low yield. Therefore, breeding for drought tolerance becomes one of our most important objectives. Identifying different sources of drought tolerance is on-going. This report summarizes the results of our study on 334 wheat genotypes from CIMMYT and ICARDA under drought conditions in the field. Ahgaf, 'Vee 'S'/Snb'S'//Sanine/Ald 'S'', and Lutescence 9489 were among those entries that were found superior under all selection parameters. Some other outstanding lines with their agronomic characteristics and levels of resistance to powdery mildew and yellow rust as compared to two local check cultivars Lutescence 42 and Erythrospermum 13 are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Selected wheat germ plasm with their agronomic characteristics and level of resistance to powdery mildew and yellow rust.

Plot no. Origin Days to maturity 1,000-kernel weight (g) Yield t/ha Resistance to powdery mildew and yellow rust

1 Fow 1 146 42.8 5.5 R

2 Bocro-2 146 45.5 6.2 R

3 Bloyka 140 43.2 6.2 R

33 Seri 82//Shi # 4414/Grow 'S' 139 45.2 5.7 MR

37 Byrsa/5/Uaya 74/ 'S' 144 43.6 5.0 S

42 Vee 'S'/Snb 'S'//Sannine/Ald 'S' 144 46.0 7.4 MR

10 Ahgaf 148 39.0 6.6 MR

30 Debeira 149 37.2 6.2 R

20 Cham 5 144 41.0 5.2 R

53 Lutescence 42 (Local Check) 146 43.3 5.8 MR

50 Erythrospermum 13 (Local Check) 140 41.2 6.1 MS

65 Lutescence 9489 139 52.0 7.3 MR

ITEMS FROM KYRGYSTAN

KYRGYZ INSTITUTE OF FARMING
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Drought tolerant CIMMYT-ICARDA wheat germ plasm in Kyrgyzstan. [p. 95]

Plot no.	Origin	Days to maturity	1,000-kernel weight (g)	Yield t/ha	Resistance to powdery mildew and yellow rust
1	Fow 1	146	42.8	5.5	R
2	Bocro-2	146	45.5	6.2	R
3	Bloyka	140	43.2	6.2	R
33	Seri 82//Shi # 4414/Grow 'S'	139	45.2	5.7	MR
37	Byrsa/5/Uaya 74/ 'S'	144	43.6	5.0	S
42	Vee 'S'/Snb 'S'//Sannine/Ald 'S'	144	46.0	7.4	MR
10	Ahgaf	148	39.0	6.6	MR
30	Debeira	149	37.2	6.2	R
20	Cham 5	144	41.0	5.2	R
53	Lutescence 42 (Local Check)	146	43.3	5.8	MR
50	Erythrospermum 13 (Local Check)	140	41.2	6.1	MS
65	Lutescence 9489	139	52.0	7.3	MR