The 49th All India Wheat and Barley Research Workers\' Meet, jointly organized by PAU, Ludhiana and the Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR), Karnal at Punjab Agricultural University from August 27-30, besides reviewing the progress of preceding crop season and finalizing the plan of work for the ensuing crop season also held a special session on \' Strategies to bridge the yield gaps in wheat and barley production\' and \' Strengthening international collaboration for wheat and barley research\'. Over 350 scientists, policy makers, administrators and those concerned with the promotion of wheat and barley participated in the meeting. the convention was inaugurated by Dr Manjit Singh Kang, vice-chancellor of pau and presided over by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Deputy Director General , Dr Swapan K Datta. in addition to scientific presentations from various stations of the All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) on wheat and barley, those who made deliberations included Dr R P Dua (ADG-FFG), Dr RR Hanchinal (VC, UAS, Dharwar), Dr GB Singh (Agriculture Commissioner, GOI), Dr SS Gosal (PAU Director Research), Dr JP Tandon (former Project Director Wheat), Dr GS Nanda (former Director of Research, PAU), and representatives of ICARDA and CIMMYT.
Dr SS Singh, Project Director presented the Progress Report for 2009-10 and highlighted that 8 new improved varieties of wheat were released for commercial cultivation. for increasing the availability of improved seed to farmers, ~35,000 quintal of breeder seeds of 145 varieties against the indent of 31,000 quintals has been produced in 2010, he said. Dr Singh said that to counter the terminal heat tolerance, scientists have contributed to develop futuristic wheat strains endowed with tolerance. he highlighted that a close watch on the dynamics of important diseases and pests has been kept, especially, on Ug 99 race of stem rust of wheat, which has not so far been detected in India. Further, molecular approaches for improving the grain quality and biscuit/bread making quality of wheat have been put into practice for developing improved wheat varieties. in case of barley, improved varieties/strains suitable for producing malt, feed and fodder have been developed/identified.
The scientists suggested that the variety PBW 343 be replaced by resistant varieties, PBW 550 and DBW 17, to address the problem of yellow rust. it was recommended that awareness campaign be initiated in view of the incidence of cereal cyst nematode.
The Resource Management and Social Sciences Group highlighted that for higher profitability and sustainability of the rice-wheat system, direct seeded rice followed by wheat with rice residue incorporation or surface retention and 25% additional nitrogen, should be practiced. Further, green gram or cowpeas after wheat or vegetable peas after rice, followed by late sown wheat in rice-wheat for greater system productivity, profitability and sustainability, should be grown. For higher productivity of pulse crops, grow green gram, cowpeas and vegetable peas under bed planting or zero tillage. It was emphasized that good interaction between breeders and quality experts is crucial for progress in wheat and barley quality.
The workshop provided opportunity to scientists to finalize the work plan for the year 2010-11. To foster international collaboration for wheat and barley research, programmes should have joint endeavours in several areas including exploitation and use of genetic resources from various origins, phenotyping for drought, heat, salinity, rusts, net and spot blotch, initiating a pre-breeding programme, malting barley, human resource enhancement, germplasm exchange, etc. The deliberations were made by Dr. Gordan Cisar who discussed Borlaug Rust Global Initiative/Cornell University programmes, Dr. Ravi Singh highlighted the achievements made by CIMMYT programmes on durable rust resistance, harvest plus (varieties with zinc and iron concentration in the grain), while discussing Australian Cereal Rust Control Programme, Dr. Flavio Capttini highlighted the achievements of barley programme at ICARDA.
The Organizing Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Indu Sharma said that the session on strategies to Bridge the yield gaps in wheat and barley production, Strengthening international collaboration for wheat and barley research, Progress of wheat research in NWPZ and finalization of work plan based on the recommendations of different session were held. The work plan was finalized in the Plenary Session, today under the chairmanship of Dr. Dutta while Dr. Dua and Dr. Singh were Co-Chairman, said she.
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