Triticeae Genomics and Genetics 2015, Vol.6, No.1, 1-3
2
rainfed wheat variety for commercial cultivation for
the farmers of Afghanistan. This note reports the
performance and adaptability of this CIMMYT
genotype to Afghan conditions and how the variety
compared with other existing variety.
1 Materials and Methods
The variety Lalmi 04 was introduced into Afghanistan
through 14
th
Semi Arid Wheat Yield Trial (SAWYT)
in 2006. The variety was tested for four years (Table 1)
at several locations in the country. Lalmi 04 has
proven rainfed varieties like Silver Star (from
Australia) and Pastor (from CIMMYT, Mexico) in its
pedigree (SLVS*2/ PASTOR) and was tested in 14
th
SAWYT at Jalalabad, Mazar and Takhar during the
crop season 2006-07. The SAWYT trial comprising of
50 genotypes was laid in alpha lattice design with two
replications. The following year Lalmi 04 was
tested in Preliminary yield trial- semi arid (PYT-SA)
at Kunduz in completely randomized block design
(CRBD) design with three replications. However,
during next two years, the variety could not be tested
and it entered wheat yield evaluation trials again in
2010-2011 and was tested in National Uniformity
(NUT) trial at two locations of Herat and Takhar. The
genotype was tested once again in NUT during
2011-2012 at Takhar and Mazar. Both the NUT trials
were conducted in CRBD with three replications. All
the trials were sown in a timely fashion using the
standard seeding rate (105 kg/ha). Individual
experimental plots of 6.0 m
2
were seeded as six rows
with 0.20-m row spacing. In addition to yield potential,
the variety was also evaluated for other important
traits like height, days to maturity and disease reaction.
The variety was also screened for rust reaction at
Njoro Kenya as part of National Rust Screening
Nursery (NRSN) during 2010-11. In all the yield
evaluation trials, the locally recommended agronomic
practices were followed.
Table 1 Average performance of Lalmi 04 during four years of testing as compared to check variety Lalmi 02
Genotype
Yield (kg/ha)
14
th
SAWYT
(2006-2007)
PYT-SA
(2007-2008)
NUT-RF
(2010-2011)
NUT-RF
(2011-2012)
Average Superiority (%)
14
th
SAWYT # 324
3325 (3L)
4591
3853 (2L)
4170(2L)
3826
10.4
Lalmi-02/ best check
2900
4796
3508
3598
3463
2 Results and Discussion
Good wheat harvest in Afghanistan depends on good
rainfed wheat crop. Though irrigated wheat is more or
less consistent in yield, however, is unable to produce
sufficient for the country’s requirements. Only when
rainfed wheat also produces a good crop, the country
harvests wheat quantities closer to its self sufficiency
needs. The variety Lalmi 04 was introduced into
Afghanistan through 14
th
Semi Arid Wheat Yield Trial
(SAWYT) in 2006. The variety was found superior to
existing check Lalmi 02 by about 10% and was thus
released in the variety release committee meeting in
January, 2013. During the first year of testing, Lalmi
04 yielded an across location mean yield of 3325
kg/ha against Lalmi 02 which yielded 2900 kg/ha in
SAWYT. The following year in PYT-SA at Kunduz,
Lalmi 04 yielded 4591 kg/ha, lower than 4796 kg/ha
of Lalmi 02. However, during 2010-2011 and
2011-2012, this variety yielded higher than the check
and achieved an overall superiority of over 10%
against the check Lalmi 02. Its across location mean
yield stood at 3853 kg/ha in 2010-11 and 4170 kg/ha
in 2011-2012 against 3508 kg/ha and 3598 kg/ha of
Lalmi 02, respectively. The variety recorded no rust in
Afghanistan during four years of testing whereas
under artificial epiphytotic conditions at Njoro, Kenya,
Lalmi 04 was observed to have 10 M stem rust and
10-15 M yellow rust. Lalmi 04 has an average plant
height of 88 cm and mature in 179 days. It has an
erect flag leaf and 1000 grains weigh 44 grams. Lalmi
04 showed an yield potential of 6836 Kg/ha and an
average yield potential of 3826 Kg/ha compared to
3463 Kg/ha of Lalmi 02 showing over 10% yield
superiority over four years of yield evaluation trials.
The other distinguishing features of Lalmi 04 are
presented in Table 2. The release of this variety for
commercial cultivation addresses the critical gap of
lack of suitable rainfed varieties in the country. This
issue has assumed alarming proportion with Ghori 96,
a highly popular rainfed variety, falling susceptible to
