Instructions for the management of the International Yield Nurseries: Spring Wheat (ISWYN), Durum (IDYN), Triticale (ITYN)

Abstract

Due primarily to the work of members of the Plant Science Department of the University of Manitoba, and more recently to CIMMYT working in collaboration with the Canadian group, many of the basic deficiencies of Triticale are being overcome. By improving the growth habit, plant type, disease resistance and fertility, the productivity of Triticale now warrants testing over a much wider range of environments. The first yield nurseries have been designed to assess the performance of advanced breeding lines and to compare them to other cereals. The performance of the Triticale lines may be disappointing in some environments at first, but rapid progress is being made and the information gained from the yield nurseries will be invaluable to guide the breeders in their search for improved germ plasm. The objectives of these nurseries are to 1) provide research workers developing new varieties an opportunity to assess the performance of their advanced breeding lines over a wide range of climatic, cultural and disease conditions, 2) serve as a source of fundamental information on adaptation, 3) allow local research and extension workers to compare the performance of new varieties from other countries and 4) provide a source of new, valuable genetic variability which the cooperator may use directly or in crosses within his breeding program.