Winter- and Disease-Resistant Bread Wheat Variety Developed

Trakya Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü has developed bread wheat varieties called "Toprak" and "Değirmen" that stand out for high yield and resistance to winter conditions and diseases, under breeding programmes led by the institute. Within the scope of a project conducted with Trakya Birlik, two new bread wheat varieties were produced using crossbreeding methods. The new varieties were registered by the Seed Registration and Certification Centre Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Both varieties, sown in the institute's trial plots, were found to be tolerant to cold and diseases, and positive feedback was received from test plantings carried out by producers. The new varieties, with their solid stem structures that resist lodging, stood out for their high yield. In test plantings conducted, wheat yields exceeded 700 kilograms per decare.

Production areas to expand

Dr. İrfan Öztürk, Head of Field Crops at the institute, told AA that new varieties were developed according to producers' demand and needs. Stating that the sowing areas of the new varieties will increase in coming years, Öztürk said, "Our two new bread wheat varieties Toprak and Değirmen, which are disease-resistant and stand out in yield and quality, have been registered." Öztürk pointed out that seed breeding work is a long-term process and many factors are taken into account.

"Yields exceeding 700 kilograms per decare were obtained"

Öztürk, explaining that due to global climate change, there are sometimes droughts, sometimes excessive rainfall and variable temperature values, noted: "Weather conditions are very important for different growth stages of the plant. When we evaluated both of these varieties, their tolerance to both soil structure and climate conditions is at a good level. Their yield potential reaches very high levels when compared with other varieties in our region. We saw this in the registration trials. Yields exceeding 700 kilograms per decare were obtained. High levels of yield were achieved in trial and production conditions. We also received feedback from producers. When we consider the quality values in flour products, our two varieties are at par with the highest purchase values in terms of quality by the Agricultural Products Office. Very resistant to diseases and pests. During the trial process, we saw that even in periods of high disease incidence, they had tolerance that would not require the use of chemical pesticides."

"Our aim is to spread domestic and national varieties nationwide"

Göksel Evci, who works as a research and development manager at Trakya Birlik Seed Breeding Production Industry and Marketing Company, said they conducted joint work with the institute. Stating that while the development process was carried out by the institute, seed production was carried out by Trakya Birlik, Evci continued: "These varieties showed very good performance in trials. Our aim is to spread domestic and national varieties nationwide. Perhaps they will be exported abroad in the future. During the registration process of the varieties, they were sown by our farmers in various regions. It was seen that they withstand cold well, stand strong against drought and have good quality. We are receiving good demand from our producers." Institute Director Assoc. Prof. Adnan Tülek stated that 25 bread wheat varieties have been developed at the institute to date. Stating that breeding work is continuing, Tülek said the new varieties stand out with many important characteristics. Source