Release of New Cultivar- Karim, A New Spring Bread Wheat Cultivar for Semi-Tropical Rainfed Areas in Iran

Karim as a new line (HAMAM-4: T.AEST/SPRW'S'//CA8055/3/BACANORA86 ICW92-0477-1AP-1AP-4AP-1AP-0AP) was evaluated at Gachsaran agricultural research station in 2004-2005. It was selected for its high grain yield (3975 kg ha-1) and included in advance yield trial in Gachsaran, Khoramabad, Gonbad, Moghan and Ilam field stations in next growing season. Average yield of this line and check (cv. Koohdasht) in these stations were 3762 and 3416 kg ha-1, respectively. Karim had also desirable agronomic traits. Therefore, this line along with 17 promising lines were studied in three successive growing seasons (2006-2009) in uniform regional wheat yield trial in Gachsaran, Khoramabad, Gonbad and Moghan field stations. Average grain yield for new cultivar was 3310 kg ha-1 which was significantly higher as compared to check. New cultivar had 338 kg ha-1(13.7%) yield superiority to check during 2004-2009 across all field stations. Considering grain yield stability parameter this line had the highest rank with least standard deviation and small within location coefficient of variation. New cultivar showed resistance to important wheat diseases such as yellow rust, leaf rust, common bunt, dwarf bunt and powdery mildew. It has good quality properties in addition to earliness, optimum plant height and high 1000 grain weight. Overall, due to its optimum grain yield, grain yield stability, desirable agronomic traits and quality, Karim was released by Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization in 2011.