Ethiopia Releases Rust Resistant Wheat and Quality Protein Maize Varieties

摘要

Ethiopia is among those countries where the devastating stem rust strain Ug99 was reported. In addition, yellow rust epidemics are very common. In 2010, the yellow rust epidemics led to significant yield losses - up to 80% in some major wheat production zones in the country. Most of the commercially available varieties succumbed to yellow rust. The national wheat breeding program is working closely with international agricultural research centers like ICARDA and CIMMYT to counter the threat by focusing on: Screening segregating populations received from ICARDA to identify rust resistant lines; Introducing and directly testing advanced lines for adaptation, agronomic performance, and disease resistance; Popularizing and demonstrating resistant wheatvarieties; Accelerating seed multiplication of resistant wheat varieties.