Mihan, A New Bread Wheat Cultivar for Irrigated and Post-Anthesis Drought Stress Conditions in Cold Regions of Iran

Mihan is a new bread wheat cultivar originated from the cross between Iranian cultivar Barakat with the Chinese cultivar 90-Zhong 87 at Karaj Research Station in 1995-96 cropping season. The F1 plants were grown at Karaj in 1996-97 cropping season, furthermore F2-F6 populations and regional preliminary yield nursery were evaluated at Ardebil Agricultural Research Station during 1997-2003 cropping seasons. Mihan was tested as C-84-8 prior to release. Mihan has been tested in yield trials under normal irrigation and post-anthesis drought stress conditions in cold regions of Iran. It yielded well under both conditions. The mean grain yield of Mihan under normal irrigation and post-anthesis drought stress conditions was higher (7787 and 5967 kgha-1) than the mean yield of national check cultivar Shahryar (7064 and 4714 kgha-1), respectively. Mihan is a winter wheat with amber kernel. Its average height is 84 cm and is resistant to the yellow rust. Its average thousand kernel weight under normal irrigation and drought condition was 43 and 34 gram, respectively. Mihan has grains with average protein and gluten contents of 11% and 26.4, respectively. Mihan was officially released in January 2011 for cultivation in cold regions of Iran with post-anthesis drought stress condition.