Taban, a new durum wheat cultivar adapted to wheat growing areas in warm agro-climate zone of Iran

A new durum wheat cultivar, Taban (DW-92-5) was initially introduced as a breeding line through 42ed International Durum Screening Nursery (42ed IDSN) received from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and was evaluated in two research stations of Dezful and Darab in warm agro-climate zone of Iran. In this step, DW-92-5 (Taban) was selected for the further studies based on its high grain yield (7492 kgha-1). This line with 6976 kgha-1 average grain yield was close to Behrang as a control cultivar with 7198 kgha-1 in the regional preliminary yield trial in 2011-2012 cropping season. Line DW-92-5 had an average grain yield of 7782 kgha-1 in the advanced yield trials and was selected for the further evaluations. The regional elite yield trials was conducted in four stations of Ahvaz, Darab, Dezful and Khorramabad in 2013-14 and 2014-15. This line with 6669 kgha-1 had 12% higher yield than Behrang check cultivar with grain yield of 5935 kgha-1 and was selected as superior line based on its grain yield and yield stability. Taban also has high quality of semolina, high protein content (13.2%). The results of on-farm trials showed that this cultivar exhibited a 12% and 13% higher grain than Shabrang and Behrang, respectively, as local checks in Sistan and Baloochestan province as well as a 2% and 18% higher grain yield compared to Behrang and Yavarous as local checks in Kerman province. In total, based on its high grain yield, yield stability, quality of semolina and its good level of resistance to yellow and leaf rusts, line DW-92-5 was released as a new durum wheat cultivar with the name of “Taban” for warm agro-climate zone of Iran.