‘MARKAZ-2019’: A Spring Wheat Variety for Rainfed Areas of Pakistan

Abstract

‘Markaz-2019’ is a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar developed and released by the wheat breeding program at the Crop Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2019. The cultivar was approved by the Punjab Seed Council of Pakistan in its 51st meeting (19th September 2019) held at the Punjab Seed Corporation, Lahore, Pakistan. Markaz-2019 is of known pedigree “SOKOLL//FRTL/2*PIFED”, derived and selected from the 19th Semi-Arid Wheat Yield Trial (SAWYT) entry number (332) from CIMMYT during 2011–2012. Following evaluation of this candidate, ‘NR-449’ was used as candidate line for five growing seasons at NARC-Islamabad and in multi-location trials and then was officially named as Markaz-2019. Trials were conducted under rainfed conditions and grain yield and quality parameters such as grain color, size and 1000-grain weight were tested. This cultivar is a medium height wheat (107 cm) with semi-erect growth habit, stiff and hollow stem, medium to high grain volume weight in kilogram/ hectoliter (78.7 kg/hL), medium maturity (160 days), medium to high grain protein (151 g kg-1) and flour protein concentration (151 and 105 g kg-1). Markaz-2019 was released for its high yield, (ranging from 4500 kg ha-1 to 6050 kg ha-1), its improved resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis var. tritici) and leaf rust (P. triticina) and tolerance to drought. Its grain yield was significantly higher than check cultivars, and therefore recommended for cultivation in rainfed areas of Pakistan. © 2022 Friends Science Publishers