Cereal Improvement Program 1991

Abstract

In 1990/91 North Africa and Turkey had excellent seasons and most of the rest of the region had an average season. In Syria there was a very dry February and early March but this was followed by good spring rains in late March and April, also the winter was milder than the previous year, which made screening for cold tolerance in the field difficult, however diseases screening opportunities were often excellent. As an increasing number of NARS strengthen their human resources in cereal breeding so the focus of the programme is gradually shifting to earlier generation and stress tolerance nurseries. At the same time we are still maintaining advanced nurseries that are generated from the base programme. However we are concerned that by delaying sending out selections until late generations we may be throwing the baby out with the bat water. The programme is currently reporting in five projects, these are spring and facultative/winter barley, durum wheat, spring and facultative/winter wheats. This report is organized on these lines. As the ClMMYT/ICARDA wheat breeding projects and their technical support are rationalized this may change. We are strengthening barley and wheat breeding efforts in Highland areas and this is expected to continue. Finally, I would like to thank the NARS scientists and administrators for their contributions which are the mainstay of the Cereal Programmme's effort, their efforts on crur behalf cannot be over-emphasized. Also thanks are due to Ms. Samira Maksoud for her work in the preparation of the document. If any reader requires further information they should contact the scientists named at the end of each section.