RELEASE OF HIGH YIELDING WHEAT VARIETY AaS-2011 REISTANT TO STEM RUST (UG -99) IN PAKISTAN

"AaS-2011" is a high yielding and rust resistant variety of bread wheat with erect growth habit. It was released in the year 2011 for irrigated areas of Punjab. AaS-2011 originated from a cross [PRL/PASTOR//2236(V.6550/Sutlej-86)] attempted at Regional Agricultural Research Institute (RARI), Bahawalpur during 1997-1998. F1 to F5 progenies of this cross were advanced by pedigree method. Resistance against lodging, karnal bunt, stem rust (UG-99 a local race), spot blotch, rusts (Leaf rust = 10R to 30RMR and Yellow rust = 10R to 20MRMS, RRI value of 7.2-9.0 and 7.5-9.0 for leaf and yellow rusts, respectively) and high yield potential (6678 kg ha-1) are the major attributes of AaS-2011 that make it a superior variety for its target regions. AaS-2011 is tolerant to wheat aphid and responsive to fertilizer compared to the check varieties. The 1000-seed weight of this variety is 40-45 gm. Seed is amber in colour and contains 13.02% protein and 29% gluten. Its flour yield is 68.4%. It has good chapati making quality. Plant type of AaS-2011 is erect with plant height 95-105 cm with droopy flag leaf. Auricle colour is white. Ear shape is tapering and colour is red. Its straw is soft. It completes heading in 85-90 days and matures in 134-140 days. AaS-2011 performs better in irrigated areas of Punjab when planted from 1 st November to 15 December, keeping 125 kg ha-1 seed rate and fertilizer dose as 150-120-60 kg NPK ha-1 . It can be concluded that AaS-2011 is not only a high-yielder, possesses better quality traits, tolerance/resistance to regional prevailing diseases and insect pests, but is also best suited for wheat-cotton-wheat rotation system.