MART-AZR Project Research Report 64: Selection for Abiotic and Biotic Stresses: The Example of F2 Bread Wheat Selection in Highland Balochistan

Abstract

This paper describes the results of screening work on F2 bread wheat lines were carried out in multi-location trials in highland Balochistan from 1982 to 1990. The objectives were to select and evaluate desirable genotypes for winter planting. Out of a total of 816 entries only four successfully passed through the observation nurseries and yield trials. After nine years of testing only genotype ICW81.1471 was selected for wide-scale agronomic testing. Although the yield potential of this genotype was not significantly higher than that of the local check, it had the important advantage over local materials of possessing good resistance to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis). The results showed that exposure to a segregating population to the prevailing environmental stresses of cold and drought was an effective selection procedure for identifying genotypes that are resistant to such environmental stresses. Useful selection indices can be developed for other desirable attributes such as disease and pest resistance, root and shoot vigor, coleopti1e length, plant height and maturity length.