Chakwal-50: A high yielding and disease resistant wheat variety for rainfed region

A. Mahmood, M. A. Mian*, M. Ihsan*, M. Ijaz*, G. Rabbani* and M. S. Iqbal*

Cotton Research Institute AARI, Faisalabad
*Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan.

Corresponding author: shahidkooria@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Chakwal-50 a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety was developed at Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal, Pakistan and released in 2008 for general cultivation as high yielding, drought tolerant and disease resistant wheat cultivar for rainfed areas of Punjab, Pakistan. The cultivar was developed by selecting the plants from entry No. 20 of 20th  Elite Spring Wheat Yield Trial  received from CIMMYT, Mexico during 1999-2000. Selection was done on phenotypic basis and the line was evaluated in various yield trials conducted at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal and other ecological zones of the country from 1999 to 2008, based on the desirable traits for drought tolerance (erect, twisted and waxy leaves), diseases tolerance (Yellow rust, Brown Rust & Karnal Bunt) and high grain yield. This line gave significant higher yield than existing varieties like Chakwal-97, Kohistan-97, GA-2002 and Inqilab-91. This line also showed tolerance against yellow rust, brown rust and Karnal bunt. This variety was approved for general cultivation in rainfed areas of the Punjab as “Chakwal-50” by the Punjab Seed Council in its 36th meeting held on 9th July, 2008.
Key words: Triticum aestivum; Chakwal 50; Rainfed; Resistance; Rust; Karnal bunt; Yield