Abstract

Akbar-2019 is a new wheat variety released by Wheat Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, for irrigated areas of Punjab, Pakistan to maintain food security through gradually replacement of the existing susceptible cultivars to avoid yield losses due to unexpected disease wave. This genotype BECARD/QUAIU # 1 was selected from 34th ESWYT Trial from CIMMYT, Mexico during 2013-14. It was further evaluated (variety code V-14154) for yield performance in regular, provincial and national uniform wheat yield trials conducted by Wheat Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2014-18. It performed better than commercial check varieties Faisalabad-08 and Galaxy-13 by giving 1.44 and 4.28 percent higher grain yield, respectively in provincial uniform wheat yield trials during 2015-16 over 19 locations while in national uniform wheat yield trials (2016-17 and 2017-18) in diverse agro-ecological zones, it beat check variety Fsd-08 by 7.05 and 1.40% better grain yield, respectively. Rust resistance index was very good as 7.42 and 8.97 against yellow rust and leaf rust, respectively. The genotype was medium tall (115-120 cm), semi-erect in growth habit with tapering-shaped head and whitish straw color. It matured in 140-145 days and born good tillering capacity (380-430 tillers/m2 ). The seed was amber and bold with good 1000-kernel weight of 40-42 grams. Its quality traits were also good for protein (12.5-14.9%), starch (53.7-55.8%), gluten (25.0-30.0%) and test weight (71.4-76.4 kg/ha) alongwith good chapatti making quality. It produced highest grain yields for consecutive three years (2016-17 to 2018-19) while sown during 1st fortnight of November at seed rate of 100 kg/ha and with fertilizer dose of 120-90-60 N-P-K (kg/ha). Akbar-2019 was approved in the year 2019 for general cultivation in irrigated areas of Punjab due to promising stable performance over the years for better grain yield, nutritional quality and resistance against rusts.