PIRSABAK-2008, A NEW HIGH YIELDING WHEAT VARIETY FOR CULTIVATION IN IRRIGATED TRACTS OF NWFP, PAKISTAN

A new wheat variety, named as Pirsabak-2008, was received in Elite Selection Wheat Yield Trial (ESWYT) during 2002-03 from CIMMYT (Mexico) and was evaluated the same year at Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI) Pirsabak for the first time. The trial was comprised of 50 lines including check Saleem-2000. The line having parentage KAUZ / PASTOR at serial no. 28 in the trial was selected on the basis of its extraordinary high yield and disease resistance. It was re-tested in advance yield trial (B-II trial) at CCRI during 2003-04. The advance yield trial was comprised of 20 entries including check Saleem-2000 and Haider-2000. The line was re-selected in advance yield trial based on high yield and disease resistance. It was re-tested under microplot trial or regional yield trial (normal and late) at multi locations i.e. at CCRI Pirsabak, Jamra Farm Mardan and ARS (N) Mingora (Swat) in NWFP during 2004-05. The results of ESWYT, advance yield trial and microplots during 2002-03 to 2004-05 confirmed the superiority of the line for higher yield and diseases resistance (yellow rust and leaf rust) over the check varieties. The line was subjected to the National uniform wheat yield trials (NUWYT) during 2005-06 and 2006-07 under normal and late sowing conditions. Based on high yield and disease resistance, the line was finally selected and presented to the 29th meeting of the NWFP Provincial Seed Council held on November 18, 2008 where the line was approved as new variety with the name of Pirsabak-2008 for sowing in the irrigated areas of NWFP.