What is IWWIP?

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) is a joint enterprise between the Government of Turkey, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and International Center for Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA). The Program main objective is to develop winter/facultative wheat germplasm for the region of Central and West Asia. IWWIP also facilitates the winter wheat germplasm exchange for the global breeding community. IWWIP was established in the mid-1980s by Turkey and CIMMYT to breed wither wheat. ICARDA joined in 1991 integrating facultative wheat breeding activities in Syria. The main IWWIP activities and the outcomes are:

  • IWWIP utilizes the diverse agro-climatic conditions of Turkey and Syria for breeding winter/facultative wheat varieties suitable for the region. The breeding activities are conducted at several research institutes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Turkey and at ICARDA-Syria (WEB-IWWIP-description.ppt.) | (iwwip-website-info.pdf.)
  • The germplasm development targets both irrigated and dryland conditions. The advanced breeding lines are annually distributed to more than 100 cooperators in more than 50 countries (List of cooperators). In addition, interested breeding programs submit their material to IWWIP for inclusion into international testing (IWWIP-seed-shipment-rules.pdf). IWWIP reserves the right to select the varieties or breeding lines for international distribution based on performance in Turkey.
  • The IWWIP and introduced germplasm are distributed through International Nurseries. There are two types on nurseries: observation nurseries distributed globally and comprising more than around 100 entries each. Small amount of seed is supplied for each entry (30 gr.) allowing for visual selection. Yield trials are normally distributed regionally and planted as replicated trials to obtain yield and other relevant data. The International Nurseries are distributed on request (IWWIP-IN-description-10-11.doc).
  • The germplasm developed by IWWIP has been utilized both as parents for crosses and directly as varieties. More than 42 varieties originating from IWWIP were released in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (Cultivars_Reg_Trials_IWWIP_09.xls).
  • IWWIP international nursery multiplication and distribution for North and South America is conducted by Oregon State University. The Winter Wheat Breeding Program at OSU obtains the germplasm from Turkey one year before the international nurseries are distributed, multiplies it and sends to interested cooperators easing challenges associated with seed movement in the region.

IWWIP is jointly supported by Turkey, CIMMYT and ICARDA. The program is governed by the Steering Committee. Three coordinators from Turkey (Mr. Yüksel Kaya), CIMMYT (Mr. Alex Morgounov) and ICARDA (Mr. Mesut Keser) provide technical leadership. The day-to-day operations are managed by CIMMYT-ICARDA office in Ankara. Dr. Jim Petersen leads the IWWIP nurseries multiplication and distribution at Oregon State University, USA.

IWWIP Seed Shipment Rules • IWWIP Registered Variaties
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