NBPGR’s massive wheat characterization experiment enters
Limca Book of records 2013  

In an unprecedented initiative, NBPGR, for the first time, has characterized and evaluated (preliminary) entire germplasm of wheat (~22000 accessions comprising T. aestivum, T. durum and T. dicoccum) conserved in the National Genebank, at three locations in during Rabi 2011-12. At CCS HAU, Hisar, the wheat accessions have been characterized under optimum conditions. Data on 32 agro-morphological characters are used to develop a core-set. At IARI Regional Station, Wellington wheat germplasm were screened against rusts and other major foliar diseases. A sub-set of accessions identified to be potentially tolerant/resistant are being screened at two other hot-spots. At NBPGR, Issapur Farm, two sets of wheat germplasm, one under normal sowing and second set under late sowing were screened for terminal heat tolerance....Read more