Abstract: Saleem-2000 (PR-70) was first received as entry no.6 in Regional Bread Wheat Segregating Population (RBWSP) with the pedigree, CHAM-6//KITE/PGO and planted at CCRI (space planting was done in 9 m2 plots). Single plant selection was made and the generation was advanced as entry no. 5045 at Hill Agriculture Research Station (HARS), Kaghan in 1995. In the year 1995-96 the entry was planted at CCRI as # 6025. It was selected as fix line on the basis of its plant type and disease reaction. From 1996-97 to 1998-99 it was tested among other lines at CCRI in preliminary yield trials, (A and B ) and multi-location trials in NWFP. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with 3 replications. Each plot has six rows 25 cm apart and 5 m long. In 1999-2000 and 2000-2001the line was evaluated in National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (NUWYT) Islamabad for regional and national level testing . The variety has an edge in yield over the check varieties. It is high yielding and suitable for normal and late planting (which is a major reason for low yield ) in irrigated areas of NWFP. Saleem-2000 has shown Ist position in six sites averages of NWFP both in Normal / Late Seeding Date Trials of NUWYT. Its Chapati quality is better than the existing varieties. The variety was approved in September 2000 by the Provincial Seed Council for the irrigated areas of NWFP and in 2001 by Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) Islamabad for normal and late sowing irrigated areas of NWFP.
INTRODUCTION
Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major staple food crop of Pakistan. It is contributing 72% of the calories and proteins in the Pakistan. It occupies 70% of the Rabi and 37% of the total cropped area in the country. The per capita consumption is 125 kg year–1 which is the highest in the world.
Area under wheat crop has increased from 6.7 million hectares in 1980-81 to 8.093 million hectares in 2002-03. During the same period yield also increased from 1634 kg ha–1 to 2354 kg ha–1. The restricted expansion in wheat cropped area and slower growth rate in wheat productivity has made it harder for Pakistan to export this year in order to meet the needs of its growing population as compared to 1.7 million tons export in 2001-02. Wheat production was 19.235 million tones during 2002-03. Punjab is the dominant wheat producing province contributing 81% of the national wheat production, Sind 11, NWFP 5 and Baluchistan 3%.
Presently the variety Inqilab-91 is sown on 70-80% area of NWFP. Due to monoculture there is always a danger of crop failure if rust epidemic occurs. The current cultivars like Bakhtawar-92, Suleman-96 and Nowshera-96 etc. sown in NWFP are also showing mildly susceptible reaction to the yellow rust which may become susceptible
in the near future. This situation calls for urgent release of genetically different and high yielding wheat variety for irrigated areas of NWFP.
Cereal Crops Research Institute Pirsabak, Nowshera is a pioneer in developing wheat varieties to fulfill the need of the province. It has developed numerous wheat cultivars both for irrigated and rainfed areas of which Pak-81, Pirsabak-85, Khyber-87 in early nineties (Khan et al., 1990 and 1992) and Nowshera-96, Suleman-96 in mid nineties became popular in NWFP. Moreover, quite a few wheat varieties like Mexipak-65, WL-711 and Sonalika were successfully introduced from Mexico and India, respectively (Bourlauge, 1965). Dera-98 was another success for warmer areas of NWFP (Nasir Uddin et al., 2000).
| Botanical Description And Other Characteristics Of The Variety |
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Saleem-2000 was first received as entry no.6 in Regional Bread Wheat Segregating Population (RBWSP) with the pedigree, CHAM-6//KITE/PGO and planted at CCRI (space planting was done in 9 m2 plots). Single plant selection was made and the generation was advanced as entry no. 5045 at Hill Agriculture Research Station (HARS), Kaghan in the same year. In the year 1995-96 the entry was planted at CCRI as # 6025. It was selected as fix line on the basis of its plant type, no of tillers, spike length, no of grains per spike and resistant type reaction to both YR and LR.
In 1996-97 and 1997-98 it was tested among other lines at CCRI in preliminary yield trials as entry # 2(A-Test-I) and entry #4 (B-Test-II). Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with replications. Each plot has six rows 25 cm apart and 5 m long. The line (as entry #7) was promoted to Microplot trials based on its performance, to be tested in normal and late planting experiments at various irrigated locations of NWFP including CCRI. The same design (RCB) with 3 replications were used. In 1999-2000 the line was submitted to National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (NUWYT) Islamabad for regional and national level testing of the line (as entry # 17) both in normal planting and late planting experiments. Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications was used. In 2000-2001 PR-70 was reevaluated in NUWYT trials to confirm the results of the previous year.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The variety was received in 1994-95 from Cimmyt, Mexico as Regional Bread Wheat segregating population. Single plant selection was made and at the end fix line was selected among the progeny, which was subjected to various yield performance tests and finally after six years the line was approved as commercial cultivar for normal and late sowing, irrigated areas of NWFP (Table 1).
The data presents the preliminary yield trials in 1996-97 and 1997-98 respectively (Table 2). The results indicate that Saleem-2000 (PR-70) has given 19.00 and 8.0% increase over checks (Inqilab-91 and Bakhtawar-92) during 1996-97, while in 1997-98 it has given 48.0 and 21.0% more yield than the checks (Khyber-87 and Nowshera-96).
The performance of Saleem-2000 in Microplot trials during 1998-99 at five different locations of NWFP (Table 3). In normal sowing Saleem-2000 has shown 2 and 7% yield gain over checks (Bakhtawar-92 and Khyber-87). In late sowing Saleem-2000 out yielded checks by 3 and 13 % (B-92 and Khyb-87). On the basis of yield the Saleem-2000 was promoted for testing in National Uniform Yield Trials.
The data reveals that Saleem-2000 has shown 3 and 7% increase in yield over checks (Inqilab-91 and Bakhtawar-92) in 1999-2000, while 4 and 1% increase in yield over checks (Inqilab-91 and Bakhtawar-92) has been recorded in the year 2000-2001 (Table 4). The data pertains to the six locations/sites of NWFP used during the experimentations in the said years.
| Table 1: | Summary of Development History |
| Table 2: | Yield performance of Saleem-2000 (PR-70) in A & B Normal duration station yield trials at CCRI, Pirsabak (NSR) 1996-97 and 1997-98 |
| Table 3: | Yield performance of Saleem-2000 (PR-70) in Microplot trials(Normal and Late sowing) conducted at five different locations of NWFP during 1998-1999 |
| Table 4: | Yield performance of Saleem-2000 (PR-70) in National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (Normal sowing) conducted at different locations of NWFP during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 |
| Table 5: | Yield performance of Saleem-2000 (PR-70) in National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (Late Sowing) conducted at different locations of NWFP during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 |
| Table 6: | Pool Analyses of Saleem-2000 (PR-70) in National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials Conducted at six sites of NWFP during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 |
In the year 1999-2000 Saleem-2000 has given 11 and 6% higher yields when compared with checks (Inqilab-91 and Khyber-87). In the year 2000-2001 Saleem-2000 has again out yielded checks (Inqilab-91 and Khyber-87) by 13 and 20% at six sites/locations in NWFP (Table 5).
The results of Pool Analyses of National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (NUWYT) conducted during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 are reported in Table 6. Saleem-2000 has given 6 and 7% increase over checks (Inqilab-91 and Bakhtawar-92). However, in 2000-2001 trials an increase of 8 and 9% has been recorded over checks (Inqilab-91 and Bakhtawar-92).
PR-70 possess complete resistance against stripe and leaf rusts reported by NARC and CDRI showing RRI for Lr and Yr in 1999-2000 i.e. 5 (acceptable index) for Lr and 9 (desirable index) for Yr respectively. While in 2000-2001 CDRI report shows RRI index 6.1 for Lr, which is desirable index and no Yr has been reported.
PR-70 has earned 3rd position in NUWYT Trials (1999-2000 Normal/Late) on averages of six sites of N.W.F.P. In combined results of 27 sites through out the country, PR-70 has achieved 5th position in Normal and 4th position in Late Seeding Date Trials of NUWYT (1999-2000).
In 2000-2001 data reported by NARC shows that, Saleem-2000 (PR-70) has out yielded all varieties/lines in Late Seeding Date Trials of NUWYT through out the country while in combined trials (N/L) PR-70 has gained 3rd position. PR-70 has shown Ist position in six sites averages of NWFP both in Normal/Late Seeding Date Trials of NUWYT. Its Chapati quality is better than the existing varieties. The variety was approved in September 2000 by the Provincial Seed Council for the irrigated areas of NWFP and in 2001 by Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) Islamabad for normal and late sowing irrigated areas of NWFP.