Research Group :  Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Improvement
  Wheat is the main staple food of the people of Pakistan and the country’s most important strategic agricultural commodity. It is grown by 80% of the farmers (more than a million), on close to 40% of the total cultivated area and 65% of the food crops area in the country. It roughly contributes 12.5% to the value added agriculture and 3.1% to GDP. The per capita wheat consumption of the country (130 kg a year) is among the highest in the world. Wheat is also the most important single product as a source of income of the majority of farmers in the rural areas of Pakistan. Wheat production in monetary terms is worth Rs.250 billion, thus has a great significance and impact on the economy of the country. One percent loss or gain in wheat production accounts for Rs.2.5 billion. Wheat being the staple food of the general populace plays a pivotal role in socio-economic development of Pakistan. During the last 5 decades every government has given top priority to increase wheat production in order to attain self-sufficiency in this important food crop. Wheat is successfully grown in NWFP also. It occupies 40% of the total cropped area and 60% of the area grown to cereals in the province. During 2004-05 wheat was cultivated on about 0.750 million hectares with a production of 1.09 million tons. Despite excellent soil and climatic conditions, the average yield of 1.5 tons/ha in the province is very low. A number of biophysical and socio-economic constraints are responsible for low yield. However, lack of high yielding, disease resistant, widely adapted and good quality cultivars play a major role in jeopardizing wheat production in the province. It is, therefore, imperative to continuously evolve and release new improved varieties in order to boost and stabilize wheat production in the province.
  Objectives:  
 
  • Development of high yielding, disease resistant, good quality and broadly adapted bread wheat varieties for normal and late planting in the irrigated areas of NWFP.
  • Induction of genetic variability through mutagenesis for short stature and disease resistance (stripe and leaf rusts) in different genetic backgrounds.
  • Maintenance of genetic purity of the released wheat varieties (Bakhtawar-92, and Fakhre Sarhad) through the regular production of Breeders Nucleus and Prebasic seed of these varieties.
     
  Group Composition  
 
  1.   Mr. Tila Mohammad DCS
  2. Mr. Mohammad Irfaq Khan SS
  3. Dr. Fazle Subhan
                                   
 
    Activities of wheat group                     		  
 

 

  1. The group is involved in bread wheat improvement for irrigated areas of NWFP through induced mutations, hybridization and introductions.The group has been successful in the development 5 improved wheat varieties. Two of these varieties i.e. Bakhtawar-92 and Fakhre Sarhad have been released for commercial cultivation in the irrigated areas and two varieties i.e. Tatara-96 and Takbeer-2000 have been released for commercial cultivation in the rainfed areas of NWFP . One variety Nishter-95 has been registered with the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department; however, it awaits approval by the provincial seed council.  These varieties are being grown by the farmers on appreciable area in NWFP.
  2. The group poduces Breeders Nucleus (BNS), Prebasic and Basic seed of NIFA wheat varieties Bakhtawar-92, Fakhre Sarhad and Tatara for further seed multiplication by the governmental and non-governmental seed producing agencies in NWFP and maintenance of the genetic purity of these varieties. More than 1000 tons BNS, Prebasic and Basic seed of the 2 wheat varieties (Bakhtawar-92 and Fakhre Sarhad) was produced and supplied to the public sector and private seed producing agencies of the province since the release of these varieties.
  3. The groups help other agencies in evaluating bread wheat breeding material for yield trials, disease screening nurseries, observation nurseries and segregating material from National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Islamabad; Crop Disease Research Institute (CDRI), Murree; Wheat Research Institute (WRI), Faisalabad; Regional Agricultural Research Institute(RARI), Bahawalpur; Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI), Pirsabak, Nowshera; CIMMYT, Mexico and ICARDA, Syria
 

          

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