ICARDA annual report 2004

ICARDA Annual Report 2004
18
tion of segregating generations
(F2-F7) will be undertaken at
SPII’s Dezful research site in
southern Iran, using material
shuttled to and from other
locations in Iran, such as
Moghan, Gorgan, Shiraz, and
Kalardosht (Fig. 8). The Dezful
site was chosen because conditions
there are suitable for
developing and testing wheat
germplasm that combines high
yield potential with high
water-use efficiency, heat tolerance,
resistance to multiple diseases,
and good bread-making
qualities.
Project 1.4.
Maragheh .
Bed-planted wheat in Iran. Photos: Dr K. Sayre, CIMMYT, Mexico.
Dezful .
Ahwaz .
. Gorgan
Kalardosht .
Karaj .
TEHRAN
. Shiraz
. Darab
Fig. 8. Main agricultural research stations in Iran.
Winter and Facultative Bread Wheat Germplasm
Improvement for Increased Yield and Yield
Stability in Highlands and Cold Winter Areas of
Central and West Asia and North Africa
T he
production of facultative and winter bread wheat,
grown predominantly in developing countries, is not
enough to meet demand. ICARDA is working in partnership
with CIMMYT and Turkey's national agricultural research system to
improve yields. As a result, CWANA's NARS released four new varieties
of winter and facultative bread wheat in 2004. All are highyielding,
early maturing, and adapted to local agroecological
conditions. They are also resistant to various diseases, including
yellow rust—the most damaging disease of wheat in CWANA.
High-yielding, diseaseresistant
wheat varieties
for CAC
Wheat is the most important crop
in CWANA’s cold, dry highlands,
which include areas in
Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan,
Turkey, North Africa, and Central
Asia and the Caucasus (CAC). At
least 40% of CWANA’s wheat is
grown in these areas on 16.4 million
hectares. However, average
yields of rainfed winter wheat are
comparatively low because investment
in breeding improved varieties
has only started recently.