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which removed the leaves during the filling
stage. Lerma Rojo 64 was much more severely
damaged. In addition to loss of leaves,
the neck and head were also attacked. This
will result in a marked reduction in yield for
this variety. Certain Italian, French and other
varieties showed excellent resistance and will
be used in hybridization work. In the Sea of
Marmora Region of the north, mildew appeared
to be quite serious. Varieties were not killed,
but suffered some reduction in yield. Leaf
rust was present, but of only minor importance.
Stripe rust was essentially absent during
the year.
Such disease attacks, point up the real
need for the production program to be supported
by adequate research. Varietal shortcomings
can then be identified before heavy
losses are encountered in the production field.
In 1969, the Ministry of Agriculture of the
Government of Turkey and the Rockefeller
Foundation, entered into an agreement for the
founding of a Cooperative Center of Research
and Training in Wheat Improvement for Turkey
and the Neighboring Countries.
After initial delays, the program is to get
underway in July under the joint direction of
Dr. Ahmet Demir.licakmak for the Government
and Dr. B. C. Wright for the Foundation. Staff
members of Oregon State University, especially
Dr. Warren Kronsted and Dr. M. Bolton, are
associated. The program envisages a coordinated,
mUlti-discipline approach to the problem
of obtaining higher yields. Aspects of
spring and winter bread and durum wheat research
will be undertaken. It is anticipated
that this center will become a major force for
change, not only in Turkey but other countries
of the region. Its activities will be closely associated
with those of CIMMYT and country
program' with which it is interlinked. The
spring-winter hybridization program of Dr. J. A.
Rupert, CIMMYT staff member at the University
of California, will have particular application
on the Anatolian Plateau, and also to the
Iranian Plateau.
Turkey has a co,?siderable number of
trained, competent research scientists who
have wheat materials 'at different stages of
development. Stations near the coast are naturally
working with spring type wheats while
those in the interior have winter wheat programs.
In the latter case a large number of
winter varieties are under test or multiplication.
The Russian variety Bezostaya, which proved
superior in the First International Winter
Wheat trial is being increased on a major scale.
Other Russian varieties Mironovskaja, Odeskaja
and Harkovskaja and the American varieties
Brevor, Gaines, Nugaines, Wanser, Warrior,
Gage, Scout, Lancer and the French variety
Druchamp are under test and preliminary increase.
A considerable number of experimental
lines developed at Eskesehir look promising.
Research, however, must be reorganized. All
disciplines must jointly concern themselves
with solving problems, each contributing its
own parts of the answer. In the present system
disciplines are separated. Under such an arrangement,
the body of knowledge concerning
a problem are not or cannot be brought together
to give a full solution.
In 1969-70, rainfall in Turkey was abnormally
low. This was true not only of Turkey,
but of a wide belt-extending eastward through
Iran, Afghanistan and the Kashmir. Many consider
it the worst drought of recent history.
As a result, barring late rains, many fields of
the Anatolian Plateau can be expected to give
little or no yield. The shortage of wheat will
lead to greater than normal import needs.
There is some danger from the possible expansion
of spring wheat dwarfs into the Anatolian
Plateau where they are unlikely to be
adapted. Encouraged by the results obtained
in the coastal area, some farmers in the interior
have also sown some acreage to these
varieties. The past winter was mild and they
are obtaining good results. This could lead
to further expansion. This must be discouraged..
A severe winter can be expected to cause a
major failure of stand.
In addition to those factors concerned with
varieties, other problems stand in the way of
increased production particularly on the Anatolian
Plateau. Like many other countries of
the Mediterranean Region the limited rainfall
makes it necessary to observe a fallow season
between successive wheat crops. Unfortunately,
the conservation of moisture in this
intercrop period is minimal. Once the crop
has been harvested, sheep are pastured from
July to the following March when the land is
plowed. Most of the rainfall occurs in late
autumn. As a consequence, fields develop
heavy weed growth which uses up most of the
moisture which falls and should be otherwise
available, if conserved, for the succeeding
wheat crop. Even after plowing, the soil surface
is left rough so that air spaces can dry
out the soil to a depth of many inches. Agronomic
experiments have and are being conducted
which indicated that sub-surface tillage
where a straw mulch is retained on top, conserves
moisture very well. Such measures
can greatly stabilize yield on dryland. Asso-
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