Developing Improved Varieties of Bread Wheat and Registration of “Shaki” Variety

The wheat germplasm distributed globally by CIMMYT and ICARDA is the primary source of cultivars for developing countries and a highly valuable source of improved crossing parents for breeding programs and developing wide adaptable with high yielding, resistant to disease, and high-quality traits worldwide. Shaki (ETBW9089) variety was selected from the international nursery which was introduced from CIMMYT in 2015 and tested together with 50 other test genotypes including local and standard checks at a quarantine site in Ethiopia. The variety was mainly selected for best agronomic performance, wide adaptability, resistance to disease, and high yield potential. Shaki is adapted within the range of altitude 1900‒2780 masl with annual rainfall amount receiving from 640‒1290 mm. The new bread wheat variety Shaki is high yielding variety across wide environments. Shaki is a stable and adaptable wheat variety for different bread wheat-growing agro-ecologies of Ethiopia. Shaki variety produced 13.36% and 12.68% grain yield advantage over the standards checks Wane and Lemu, respectively. Shaki variety showed relative resistance to stem yellow and leaf rust as compared to wheat varieties under production at the medium to high land wheat-growing agro-ecologies. The genotype with pedigree name BABAX/LR42// BABAX/3/ER2000/4/BAVIS and selection history CMSA09M00434S-050ZTM-0NJ-099NJ-3RGY-0B was named Shaki after official release for commercial production by the national variety releasing committee in 2021. Replacement of susceptible bread wheat varieties and availing more alternatives bread wheat varieties to grow for resource-poor farmers is very crucial in the region.