Gemmiza 7: A New Egyptian Long Spike Wheat Cultivar.

Abstract

Wheat plants having long spikes are very attractive to both breeder and producer . Thus, a considerable attention is paid in the Egyptian National Wheat Research Program (NWRP) to develop new long spike wheat cultivars. However, long spike cultivars are characterized by : long spike (50% longer than normal spike in a specific location); large number of kernels/spike (more than 100 kernels) and heavy kernels (10-15% heavier than those of normal cultivars). Sids series of long spike cultivars; sids 4 to sids 9, the result of the first attemp were susceptible to stripe rust , and have low tillering ability . As a result of the persistent effort made by (NWRP), the new long spike cultivar, Gemmiza 7, was released as a cultivar with high yielding potentiality, good tillering ability, and rust resistant.A total of 167 experiments at different levels of grain yield evaluation were conducted at 7 different regions to represent the old and new lands of Egypt, for six successive seasons, 1994/95-1999/2000. Data revealed that Gemmiza 7 out-yielded the commercial cultivars Sakha 69, Sids 1, Gemmiza 5 and Giza 164 in many locations at different regions for at least two seasons . Moreover, Gemmiza 7 grain yield encrements ranged from 2.29-116% comparing to the average grain yield of the four tested commercial cultivars . In addition, stability study indicated that Gemmiza 7 was superior at Middle and South Delta regions for six successive seasons . Likewise, rust resistance tests proved that Gemmiza 7 is resistant , and highly resistant to yellow and stem rusts, respectively.Therefore, the new long spike wheat cultivar, Gemmiza 7 is highly recommended to be grown in the old and new lands at Delta region in general, and at Middle and South Delta in particular .