ICARDA has been working in the Central Asia region since 2000 in collaboration with i.e. the Regional Forum of the CAC countries (CACAARI). Wheat production, in particular winter wheat, is highly vulnerable to e.g. salinity, drought as well as yellow rust disease epidemics pose threat to wheat production and food security in Central Asia. Among others, improved wheat varieties have been identified, which are resistent to yellow rust.

1. Climate resilient wheat varieties
introduced through international
collaboration for enhanced food security in
Central Asia
Ram Sharma et al.
13 July 2016
Central Asia Climate Smart
Agriculture Workshop
12-14 July, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Contributions
National Wheat Research Programs in
Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC)
ICARDA, CIMMYT,
CRP-WHEAT, CRP-Dryland Systems
Donors:
National funds for wheat research, CAC
BMZ/GIZ
Russian Federations
ICARDA, CIMMYT

2. 1
ICARDA - History of Collaboration in the CAC region
1995
The first workshop held in Tashkent in December 1995 brought together
participants from ICARDA and other CG Centers, from donor
organizations and NARS of CAC to identify areas of collaboration

3. 2
ICARDA - History of Collaboration in the CAC region
1998
 Nine CGIAR Centers agreed to form a Consortium to assist the eight
CAC countries in agricultural research with ICARDA as the lead Center
 ICARDA's CAC Regional Program Office was established on 1 August
1998 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
 ICARDA facilitated the establishment of the CGIAR Regional Program
for Sustainable Agriculture in CAC (www.cac-program.org). ICARDA
serves as the Convening Center for the CAC Regional Program.

4. 3
ICARDA - History of Collaboration in the CAC region
2000
– Regional Forum of the CAC countries (CACAARI) was established
– CACAARI has been representing Central Asia and the Caucasus at
various regional and global meetings, including Global Forum for
Agricultural Research (GFAR)

5. 4
Wheat breeders and CSA
• Wheat breeders always think of CSA
• Plan for 20 years of climatic variations for each new
variety to reach the farmers’ fields

6. 5
Bezostaya 1 – Probably the most climate resilient winter wheat
variety
1969 – released
Still grown on
≈ 1 million ha
Yield 6 t/ha

7. 6
Temperature variations in Karkalpakstan 2013 and 2016
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Max Min
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Tmax Tmin
30 June
2016
1 Dec
2013
Temperature°C

8. 7
Constraints to wheat production under climate change
in Central Asia
WinterAutumn Spring
Drought
Wet
Heat
Dry
Wet
Dry
Mild
Wet
Dry
Salinity

9. 8
Wheat stripe rust problem in Central Asia
 Six stripe rust epidemics since
2009
2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Kroshka
2009, Uzbekistan
Krasnodar-99
2013, Tajikistan
Grom
2016, Uzbekistan
 30% yield reduction in
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
due to yellow rust
Sharma et al. (2016), J.
Phytopathology

10. 9
Wheat stripe rust problem in Central Asia
Cost of fungicide spray:
1-3 sprays ( 70 to 210 USD/ha)
Saving from 20% area
200,000 ha = USD 14 – 42 million
2016 case: epidemic lasted for 3
months
1 to 3 fungicide sprays
Approx. 500,000 ha sprayed
Fungicide cost, 2 sprays: $140/ha
USD 70 million
• Environmental cost
• Human health cost

11. Wheat germplasm received in Central Asia:
1995 - 2011
-5000
5000
15000
25000
35000
45000
55000
65000Numberofaccessions Total Bread wheat Durum wheat

12. New, improved wheat varieties, resistant to yellow rust
Shumon Shams

13. Climate Resilient Winter Wheat - Yaksart
Characters:
1. Winter frost tolerance
2. Medium Salinity tolerance
3. Heat tolerance
4. Moderately yellow rust
tolerance
5. Moderately leaf rust tolerance
6. Grain yield
9 t/ha under normal soil,
irrigation
6 t/ha on medium saline soil
7. Quality - superior

14. Climate Resilient Winter Wheat - Gozgon
Characters:
1. Medium Salinity tolerance
2. Highly resistant to yellow rust
3. Grain yield
8 t/ha under normal soil,
irrigation
6 t/ha on medium saline soil
4. Quality - satisfactory
Remained yellow rust resistant in the
past 6 disease epidemics in:
2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015. 2016
Gozgon

15. 14
Elomon
• Suitable for fewer irrigation
Climate Resilient Winter Wheat - Yaksart
Characters:
1. Suitable for fewer irrigation
2. Medium Salinity tolerance
3. Heat tolerance
4. Moderately leaf rust tolerance
5. Grain yield
9 t/ha under normal soil,
irrigation
6 t/ha on medium saline soil
6. Quality - satisfactory

16. 15
ICARDA – Research thrusts in the CAC region
Germplasm
Enhancement
NRM
SEPR
Livestock and Feed
Seed production
PGR
Sustainable
agriculture
Better
livelihoods
Salinity problem to crop production
Khorezm, Uzbekistan

17. 16
New wheat varieties under farmers field demonstration
Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

18. 17
Identifying salinity and frost tolerant wheat varieties for Aral
Sea region
Khorezm Karakalpakstan
Entry name Origin
Grain yield (t/ha) 1000-
kernel
weight
(g)
Test
weig
ht
(g/l)
Grain
hardnes
s
Flour
protein
(%)
Flour
gluten
(%)
Days
to
headin
g
Plant
height
(cm)
Agrono
mic
score
Chimba
y 2014
Chimba
y 2015
Urgen
ch
2015
Krasnodar-99
(check)
Russia 2.58 4.18 4.41 48.0 788 85 12.1 28.4 219 89 4
Amudarya IWWIP 4.20 5.58 5.66 50.2 806 86 13.0 26.4 220 90 4
Aral IWWIP 2.99 6.30 5.68 50.5 792 81 11.7 28.6 218 90 5
LSD0.05 1.53 0.86 0.97 5.6 3.4 3 4
Evaluation by
farmers, Khorezm
Evaluation by farmers,
Karakalpakstan

19. 18
Conclusion
• Wheat improvement efforts in Central Asia region are
developing positively, and there are indications to expect
future progress in wheat productivity in the Central Asia
because wheat production is directly linked to food secuirty
Dashoguz, Turkmenistan
Salinity
Drough
Heat
Frost

20. 2012
2013
Dashoguz
Turkmenistan
“Davletle”
2011: 120 Varieties evaluated
2012

21. 20
• Climate of Central Asia is highly variable with extreme
events for winter wheat production in Central Asia
• Frequent occurrence of yellow rust disease epidemics
poses serious threat to wheat production and food
security in Central Asia
• Salinity, drought, and heat are permanent features
challenging sustainable wheat productivity in Central Asia
• Climate resilient winter wheat varieties are increasingly
becoming available through national, regional and
international collaborations
Summary

22. 21
Acknowledgement
1. National Wheat Research Programs in Central Asia
2. International Winter Wheat Program
3. ICARDA
4. CIMMYT
5. Post-graduate students

23. 22
Acknowledgement to partnership

24. 23
Acknowledgement to Ph.D. scholars
Sevindj Nurieva
Winter bread
wheat PGR
evaluation for
salinity tolerance
50 accessions
Azerbaijan
Elchin Hajiyev
Winter bread
wheat and durum
PGR evaluation for
salinity and
tolerance
220 accessions
Azerbaijan
Akmal Meyliev
Yellow rust resistance in winter
wheat
Uzbekistan
Shakhnoza Khazratkulova
Stability analysis of winter wheat
yellow rust and quality traits
Uzbekistan
Diyor Juraev
Identifying heat tolerant winter
wheat genotypes
Uzbekistan

25. Acknowledgement

26. 25
Thank you for your attention!