"These high yielding varieties also possess high protein content and resistance against several diseases.
The scientists of the university have developed WH-1105 variety of normal wheat and WHD-948 of durum wheat for irrigated and timely sown conditions. The new varieties were rich in quality and nutritional parameters compared to earlier varieties. Variety WH-1105 possessed protein content as high as 12.4 per cent," the HAU spokesman said.
An All India Wheat and Barley Research Workers meet was held recently at Durgapur in Rajasthan, where the Central Variety Identification Committee identified variety WH-1105 for commercial cultivation in the north-western plain zone of the country.
This region included Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu of Jammu and Kashmir and the foothills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
"Similarly, other variety-- WHD-948 was identified for cultivation in peninsular zone of Maharashtra and Karnataka," he said.
The spokesman further said the WH-1105 which possesses high yield potential of 71.6 quintals per hectare was semi-dwarf and takes 144 days to mature, which is five days earlier than the check varieties namely, HD-2967 and DPW-621-50.
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"It (WH-1105) exhibits excellent resistance to yellow and brown rusts, flag smut, leaf bright and powdery mildew diseases," he said.
He said that the durum wheat variety, WHD-948 has wide adaptability and yield potential of 69.5 quintals per hectare.
"It matures in 109 days. This variety is resistant to Karnal bunt, rusts, foot rot, flag smut, loose smut, leaf blight and powdery mildew diseases," he added.