NAMES, PEDIGREES, ORIGINS, AND ADAPTATION - IBSA

FOREWORDIndia has a long history ofscientific wheat research extending back to the firstdecade of the present centu"ry. Within a span of 90 years,,d very large numberof wheat varieties have been released, to the considerable benefit of Indianfarmers and consumers. At present, an array of improved genotypes, differingin agronomic characters, biotic and abiotic resistan~, and quality traits, aregrown by farmers on about 24 million hectares in this country, thus helpinggreatly to·su.stain productivity.Numerous Central and State institutions are engaged in wheat breeding, witha large number of accessions, both indigenous and foreign, at their disposal forexploitation. To safeguard genetic diversity in future generations of cultivars,there is a need to maintain and document genetic resources as well as monitorcrop genetic diversity, which will (and must) playa vital role in future plantbreeding. This publication, Wheat Cultivars in India: Names, Pedigrees, Origins,and Adaptations, compiled by Dr. K.B.L. Jain, Principal Scientist (Retd.),.Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi, and brought out by the Directorate ofWheat Research, Karnal, Haryana, provides the requisite genetic information,to benefit future wheat breeding in this country and abroad.This work - the result of collaborative efforts by the Directorate of WheatResearch, Karnal, IARI, New Delhi, and CIMMYT, Mexico - deservesappreciation on its own merits and because it is an inter-institutionalendeavour. For his tremendous dedication in compiling the information thatfollows, I compliment Dr. K.B.L. Jain, as 'well as the institutions thatprQmoted this important effort.New DelhiAugust 1, 1994V.L. ChopraDirector General, ICAR, andSecretary, DARE, Government ofIndia(iii)