International Winter Wheat Traveling Workshop

Kiev - Odessa, June 8-14, 2009

The objective of workshop was to introduce the work of Ukrainian breeders and researchers on wheat, allow communication and establishment of international, regional and bilateral linkages and to review the cooperation within IWWIP framework and develop recommendations for its enhancement.

The group visited the following organizations:

• Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Kiev)

• Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics (Kiev)

• Mironovka Wheat Research Institute (Kiev region)

• Kirovograd State Variety Testing Station (Kirovograd region)

• Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute (Odessa)

• Tairov Institute of Grapes and Wine-making (Odessa)

During the visits the presentations were made and the field visits conducted showing the current status of wheat research and breeding in the institutions visited. Both formal and informal interactions took place between the seminar participants and the Ukrainian scientists. After the visit the participants agreed on;

• The research on winter wheat in Ukraine and the respective breeding is on a very high level.

• There is a great potential for international, regional and bilateral collaboration with Ukraine.

• The participants highly appreciated the hospitality of the Ukrainian side and the excellent logistical arrangements made for the group by the hosting institutions.

On the final day we had a wrap up meeting and discussion. The outcomes of the discussions and response of IWWIP to demand of the participants as follows;

1. The winter wheat research and germplasm exchange conducted within IWWIP is highly appreciated and all the participants actively support it and would like to continue to this useful cooperation.

2. The survey conducted among the seminar participants resulted in the prioritized list;

   • Abiotic stresses: Drought, Frost, Heat

   • Biotic stresses: Leaf Rust, Yellow Rust

   • Breeding priorities were: Yield potential, Grain quality, Drought tolerance.

Though there is substantial variation among the countries and the regions, this prioritized list seems to be very relevant and will be used by IWWIP as guidance.

3. While supporting the current international nurseries from IWWIP the participants requested additional germplasm to be developed/collected, characterized and distributed:

   • Winter wheat germplasm with high winter hardiness and frost tolerance

   • Trait collections for important priority traits with the germplasm characterized and possible gene information provided.

IWWIP will distribute the Stem Rust Ug99 resistant material for 2009-2010 season and will prepare the Yellow Rust resistant material for 2010-2011 season.

• Segregating populations have been requested; IWWIP will make the list of populations available for request.

• Sunn pest is an important pest in the region, including Ukraine; vegetative stage resistance is welcomed, it will be distributed to the cooperators in coming years.

• Virus is important disease in Ukraine, RWA resistant germplasm is welcomed, especially by Ukraine, it will be distributed in coming years after evaluated agronomically in Turkey

1. The threat and concern about rust proliferation in the region and especially potential threat of Ug99 was discussed and it was agreed that the breeding/research programs will contact ICARDA or IWWIP to obtain the trap nurseries for important rusts to utilize in the monitoring of the pathogen. Germplasm screening in Kenya remains an important option to evaluate the resistance of material to Ug99.

2. The improvement of grain quality was discussed and it was agreed to conduct a regional study on genotype x environment interaction based on the international nurseries. Respective programs will be approached for this study. The information of grain quality generated at CIMMYT-Mexico and in Turkey should be freely available to all cooperators through the IWWIP web site (www.iwwip.org)

3. Drought research and testing should be enhanced and IWWIP will develop a methodology and strategy how to address it.

4. The nursery Winter Wheat East European Regional Yield Trial (WWEERYT) should be re-established by utilizing the seed of the entries from FAWWON grown in each country. This proposal will be tried for 2009-2010 season using the 16^th FAWWON.

5. The issue of adaptation and the role of day-length sensitivity were discussed without clear recommendation. However, it would be useful to have a study and analysis addressing this issue and the issue of broad versus specific adaptation.

6. The next winter wheat traveling workshop will be conducted in 2011. None of the countries proposed to host the workshop in 2011; the location will be defined in 2010 through consultations.

7. All participants thanked the organizers and the hosts for excellent workshop and possibility to attend and communicate.