IWWIP annual meeting was held in Pamukkale Denizli, Turkey on 18-21 November, 2008. Even though the participants did not have chance to go around and see the beauty of the place, it was a successful and fruitful meeting.

Some statistics about the meeting;

• Participants; 25 scientists from 12 NARI in Turkey; 7 International participants from CIMMYT and ICARDA; 1 invited speaker from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey; 3 support staff from CIMMYT and ICARDA; grand total was 36 participants,
• Presentations; 34 presentations, including invited speech and international presentations,
• 3 group discussions were held. The groups made 17 recommendations in 3 different headlines for IWWIP to make more efficient, new directions, new areas of research etc.

Recommendations made by groups;

I. Identification of Areas of Ä°WWÄ°P (Technical, Operational, Organizational

• Shuttle breeding with Iran
  Location Iran & Turkey
  Coordination: Kamali & Mesut
  Institutions: DARÄ° (Maragheh) and Ankara/Eskisehir/Konya
• Application of DH and MAS in IWWIP
  Physical facilities are available in Turkey, but trained staff and supplies are needed for applying it,
• Awareness of IWWIP as International Program
  Include International partners to Steering Committee (SC) in addition to CIMMYT & ICARDA. This should be discussed in SC.
• Operational
  Beside routine breeding activities, specific studies should also be funded
  Equipments are old, should be renewed
• Advanced training
  Should be in English speaking country
  Visiting scientists program should be applied
  Degree training; the CG Centers could be an option for degree training

II. Research Direction for IWWIP

• Pre-breeding in Mexico for key traits of interest using appropriate winter backgrounds
• Further research for Yellow Rust resistance
  • YR resistance type not known in detail; it should be studied and horizontal resistance should be sought
• Development of Sunn Pest resistant varieties is needed;
  • IPM approach should be applied and new equipment is needed to speed up sunn pest damage measurement and differentiate heat damage
• Establish a ring test to standardize quality traits (including NIR=NIT calibration)
• Prioritize quality trait required for diverse wheat products (eg bulgur, flat bread) aside from traditional analysis.
• Further Impact Analysis studies on varieties; A study conducted; based on the experience of that study new studies should be initiated in the region
• Bilateral collaboration;
  • Erzurum and Iran could be used as locations to develop cold tolerant varieties (other countries could be included)
  • Sanlıurfa, Konya and Erzincan with ICARDA/IWWIP could be used to develop heat and drought tolerant materials
• Increase research on Ug99 to develop resistant materials (need more targeted crosses and usage of molecular markers)
• Molecular information should be used more in breeding program
• Further characterization of Soil Born Pathogens in IWWIP focal regions

III. Promotion of new winter wheat varieties

• Evaluation Stage (Before Demonstration)
  Pre released material should be tested, evaluated together with farmers
• Do the tests with leader farmers, which is important to reach to large area and people