Mairaj-08: New Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Variety Released for General Cultivation under Normal and Late Planting in Punjab Province (Pakistan)

In this paper we report the release of a new wheat variety "Mairaj-08". It is a high yielding and rust resistant variety of bread wheat with erect growth habit. It was released in 2008 for irrigated areas of Punjab. Mairaj-08 is result of a local cross i.e., SPARROW/INIA//V.7394/WL711//3/BAUʹSʹ. F1 to F4 progenies of this cross were advanced by pedigree method. Resistance against rusts Leaf rust=Tr. to 00MSS and Yellow rust=40 to 60MSS, RRI value of 8-8.9 for leaf and 3-6.7 for yellow rusts and high yield potential (7400 kg ha-1) are the major attributes of Mairaj-08 that make it a superior variety for its target regions. Mairaj-08 is tolerant to wheat aphid and Helicoverpa armigera and responsive to fertilizer compared to the check varieties. The hundred grain weight of this variety is 38-42.6 g. Seed is amber in color and contains 11.7-13.1% protein, 26-26.5% wet gluten, 8.2-9.2% diy gluten, 1.5-2.9% ash. Its flour yield is 69.9%. It has good chapati making quality. Plant type of Mairaj-08 is erect with plant height 90-95 cm and droopy flag leaves. Auricle color is white. Ear shape and color is tapering and red. Its straw is soft. It completes heading in 81-98 days and matures in 115-137 days. Mairaj-08 performs better in irrigated areas of Punjab when planted from 1 November to 15 December, keeping 125 kg ha-1 seed rate and 125-100-75 kg NPK ha-1 are applied. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers