The Eleventh Regional Wheat Workshop For Eastern ... - Cimmyt

CIMMYT's Global Project 5 .. Pfeiffer et al.
(3) Develop and disseminate sustainable crop and resource management strategies to
increase productivity and stability of rainfed wheat systems
To realize genetic gains in drought tolerance in farmer's fields, suitable agronomic practices
must be implemented. Moisture conservation practices such as reduced or zero tillage and
stubble retention require a change in infrastructure. Many farmers, particularly those from
developing countries, are unable to cope with the associated expense of implementation of
these new techniques, however, the interaction of tillage regime x genotype will be very
important in realizing significant gains in productivity in dry environments. Other practices
such as shifting cultivation or periods of fallow and water harvesting will also better utilize
available moisture. This sub project aims to: 1) disseminate crop management solutions to
intelmediate users (NARS, NGOs) and farmers; 2) advise breeding programs re appropriate
management practices for germplasm screening; 3) develop crop management strategies to
optimize productivity in different agro-ecological systems.
Results from residue management experiments conducted at EI Batan (K. Sayre, unpublished
data) indicate wheat and maize yields can be significantly improved through zero tillage and
stubble retention practices (Figure 4). Significant advances have been made in water and
nitrogen management in the Yaqui Valley in northwestern Mexico through the introduction
of bed planting (Sayre, 1998). The teclmology is now being evaluated in India, Pakistan, Iran
and China with the aim of increasing farmer returns per hectare.
(4) Develop and use data bases, such as the International Wheat Information System
(IWIS), to improve the adaptation of wheat to abiotic stress
Improved collection/use of information and characterization of testing environments:
The CIMMYT wheat program distributes wheat germplasm around the world each year.
Cooperators from many countries return yield and disease information collected on these
germplasm sets. The information on the performance of key lines in low yielding
--environments is used to drive the crossing program at base in Mexico. Environments are
-characterized on the basis of their stress patterns and crosses are made among the various
specific and general performers. The aim of this strategy is to combine those parts of the
genome contributing to drought tolerance in different stress environments. Whilst most
cooperators will return yield data, there is scant information returned on environmental
parameters or other potentially confounding stresses, such as disease and micro-nutrient
imbalances. The mechanism contributing to the superior perfornlance of a particular genotype
in one environment cannot be properly understood. It is therefore critical that the global
testing environments are properly characterized year to year. The same principle applies to
multi-location yield evaluation networks within smaller regional wheat improvement
programs.
Data management systems such as IWIS are of fundamental importance if breeders and
associated researchers are to fully utilize these international data. IWIS is currently undergoing
modification to encompass a wider range of cultivated cereals. This new system, now
known as the International Crop Information System (lCIS), will provide both pedigree and
data management options to breeders and genetic resource managers working in different
crop species.
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