Development of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties for Lowland Areas of Ethiopia and Registration of the “Asgori” Variety

Abstract

Identifying improved crop varieties is crucial for Ethiopia's diverse agroecologies, as different crops respond differently. To meet food grain demand, stable, high-yielding genotypes and resistance to diverse factors are needed. Conducting trials in multiple locations is essential. Multi-location trials in Ethiopia from 2020-2021 involved 75 advanced bread wheat genotypes across 13 environments. The finest genotype, exhibiting high grain yield and stability, was selected based on its performance across different locations. In comparison to the Control Ogolcho, Hawi, Kakaba, Kingbird, Deka, Abay, Dursa, Balcha, and EBW192369, Asgori demonstrated significantly improved agronomic characteristics and enhanced yield by 121.6%, 53.9%, 29.6 %, 29.2%, 14.8%, 13.6%, 9.6%, 5.3%, and 4.1%, respectively. The newly chosen and released genotype, named Asgori, with the pedigree of MUTUS*2/HARIL#1/3/SWSR22T.B./2*BLOUK#1//WBLL1*2/KURUKU/4/MUTUS*2/HARIL#1, was officially developed by the Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research in 2023. Asgori is a widely adaptable, high-yielding, medium, erect cultivar with excellent end-use qualities. It is resistant to leaf rust, yellow rust, and stem rust, and has been approved for cultivation under rain-fed conditions.