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nean in climate and one could expect similar
diseases to occur as those in countries of
North Africa and the Near East. Mildew could
be a problem in this cool moist condition. In
spite of a substantial attack, yields in 1970 are
quite good. It should be pointed out that Akova
grown in the Caspian area is very susceptible
to prevalent races of stem rust. Some fields
were completely destroyed -others showed
little or no damage.
A number of new varieties are under test.
Several of these have been selected from
segregating material brought back by scientists
visiting or working in the Mexican program.
A few of these are now under preliminary
multiplication. Most show adequate disease
resistance combined with good yield. Several
thousand progenies are at various levels of
development at Karaj and other stations.
A summer nursery site has been identified
and established in a valley near the village of
Kelardasht. This is located to the west of the
Chalus-Karaj highway perhaps 30-40 miles
from the south shore of the Caspian and at
6,500 to 7,000 feet AMSL. A successful n'Jrsery
was grown in 1968-69 and the present
one looks good. This facility should be expanded
and placed on a permanent footing,
since there are currently no other adequate
summer nursery sites in the entire Near East
region. The cool temperatures, good soil,
availability of irrigation water, long frost-free
period and level fields should provide excellent
conditions for the experiment crop.
Much progress is being made in research
and production, in spite of limited staff and
limited facilities. Unusually good dedication is
evident among scientists. There is a real
need to adopt the "crop-oriented" approach
in place of the present "discipline-oriented"
approach if greatest returns are to be realized.
A greater uniformity of varietal composition in
the testing program seems indicated, to provide
greater assurance in the selection of
varieties. Although Iran is essentially self-sufficient,
however, a rapidly increasing population
will require increasing amount of wheat
in the next 5-10 years. Yields can easily be
increased. To accomplish this will require
provision of inputs by government, but more
important will require the stabilizing of market
prices at a remunerative level and the defense
of this price in the market. If this stability is
not achieved it is unlikely that stability of production
will develop. If surpluses are obtained,
part of the wheat land can be diverted to
production of livestock which are needed to
meet growing shortages of protein.
TURKEY
Wheat is the major agricultural crop in
Turkey. It is grown on 8.5 million hectares. Of
this, 1.5 million hectares is grown in the coastal
areas where it is grown either under adequate
rainfall or under irrigation. The remaining seven
million hectares lies in the transitional
zone and the higher Anatolian Plateau. Fallsown,
spring habit wheats are grown along the
coast at low elevation-fall-sown, winter habit
wheats on the plateau. Bread wheats occupy
the greatest acreage. The traditionally grown
spring habit variety was Florence-Aurore. The
winter habit varieties are mostly of the local
'Turkey" type. Among durums, the variety
Senatore Capelli, an old italian variety occupies
almost the entire acreage. A very significant
acreage of compactum wheats is still
grown in eastern Turkey because of its relatively
better cold resistance.
PrOduction is considered to be about ten
million tons per year. Most of the wheat is
utilized in making leavened bread. A per capita
consumption of 200 kilograms or one-fifth
of a ton of bread per year, makes Turkey one
of, if not, the highest users of bread in the
world. Wheat production, therefore, ranks
high in the list of priorities. With consumption
already well ahead of production, the need for
greater output is evident.
In 1967-68, the Government of Turkey imported
22,000 tons of seed from Mexico. In
cooperation with technical personnel of the
United States Agency for International Development,
an accelerated production program
was launched in the coastal region.~~f."his was
an outstanding success and by 1968-69, most
of the area was under dwarf wheat. Varieties
included Siete Cerras, Tobari 66, Inia 66, Lerma
Rojo 64 and Penjamo 62. Siete Cerras, which
covered a major acreage, gave good yields,
but suffered an attack of stripe rust in certain
areas which caused some damage.
In 1969-70, the area along the south coast
was sown mainly to Penjamo 62 and Lerma
Rojo 64. Penjamo 62 underwent some reduction
in yield due to a Septoria attack
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