the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

4 21Introduction to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> onWheat for More Tropical EnvironmentsA.R. Klatt, Associate DIrector, Wheat Program, CIMMYT, MexicoIs is my pleasure. on behalf of <strong>the</strong>organizing committee and <strong>the</strong> CIMMYTWheat Program. to welcome you toMexico and to this <strong>Symposium</strong> onWheats for More TropicalEnvironments. We hope your stay inMexico and your participation in thissymposium w1ll prove to be bothinteresting and rewarding.Mr. Mashler has just shared with us hisInsights into <strong>the</strong> problems associatedwith introducing wheat as acommercial crop in more tropical areas.The constraints are obviouslynumerous and complex. and w1llrequire a concerted and coordinatedresearch effort to resolve. I want toemphasize <strong>the</strong> need for a coordinatedapproach to this research endeavor andnote that. while we have a basicunderstanding of <strong>the</strong> directions inwhich this research should move. atthis time we have few answers to <strong>the</strong>numerous perplexing problems beforeus.ReasODs for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>Many people have asked why asymposium on wheats for more tropicalenvironments is being held now. given<strong>the</strong> limited information and researchresults currently In hand. Research ontropical wheat does constitute a recentinitiative. and It would be premature todraw extensive conclusions from datanow available. Never<strong>the</strong>less. <strong>the</strong>re ismuch to be gained at this time from asymposium such as this. If a trulycoordinated approach to research Is tobe implemented. it Is essential that anexchange of ideas among Involvedscientists occur early in <strong>the</strong> process.This forum has been created in aneffort to encourage and facilitate <strong>the</strong>interaction of wheat researchers whohave worked in <strong>the</strong> target environmentsof <strong>the</strong> world. as well as those who arejust beginning <strong>the</strong>ir research. We areconfident that this interaction will leadto a mutually beneficial sharing of ideasand specific information relative to <strong>the</strong>development of better-adapted wheats.It is also hoped that. as we identify <strong>the</strong>major constraints to <strong>the</strong> cultivation ofwheat In more tropical areas. we cancome to some agreement as to <strong>the</strong>irrelative Importance. By collectivelyassigning priorities to various researchactivities. we should be able to worktoge<strong>the</strong>r in a more coordinated andcooperative manner. thus facilitating<strong>the</strong> resolution of <strong>the</strong> most pressingproblems. The papers presented herew1ll describe <strong>the</strong> research currentlyunderway. much of which is focused onproblem identification and definition. Abetter understanding of <strong>the</strong> scope of<strong>the</strong>se current research activities. in <strong>the</strong>context of our common objectives. willgreatly help us in establishing prioritiesfor future research.Some Key DefinitioDsBefore proceeding any fur<strong>the</strong>r. it isimportant to clarify what is meant by<strong>the</strong> terms "tropical wheat" and..wheats for <strong>the</strong> more tropicalenvironments." The use of <strong>the</strong> term"tropical wheat" does not mean thatwheats for hot. humid. rain forestenvironments are under development.Wheat is a temperate crop. and it maynot even be possible to developgermplasm that will survive in rainforest environments. "Tropical wheat"is merely _an easy way of referring to.•wheats for <strong>the</strong> more tropicalenvironments." That is. we at CIMMYT