Super Wheat Crop By 2005

Indian scientists are working on `super wheat' varieties that can give 15 to 25 per cent more yield than the current best varieties. The super wheat can give seven to eight tonne per hectare --one to one-and-half tonne more than the current best varieties such as ''PBW343'' and ''UP 2338'' that produce 6.5 tonne per hectare under optimum conditions of growth, S Nagarjan, head of Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR) at Karnal in Haryana said. The super wheat varieties are expected to be available by 2005. DWR is under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) that signed the fourth work plan with the Mexico-based International Center for Maize & Wheat Improvement (Cimmyt) on Sunday.