GW 11: An efficient wheat variety for terminal heat and moisture stress conditions

Abstract

Wheat is an important crop worldwide and is grown on
about 210 million hectares with annual production of about
648 million metric tons (FAO 2010). The global wheat
production should be increased 2% annually until 2020
to meet future demand with the compromise of global
warming, end-use quality and newly evolving pathogen and
pest populations under reduced water availability as well as
under abrupt climatic conditions (especially heat stresses).
About 35 percent of irrigated wheat area in Gujarat state is
under late sown after cotton and paddy facing heat stress
at grain filling stage resulting about 16 percent yield loss as
compared to timely sown wheat. Further, North Gujarat and
Saurastra regions covering more than 60% wheat area in
Gujarat which is prone to water scarcity resulted in drastic
reduction in wheat productivity. Therefore, SDAU, Vijapur
has developed variety GW 11 having high stable grain yield,
better terminal heat tolerance, efficient water utilization,
resistance to black & brown rusts and better grain quality
for Gujarat state.