ZhongMai 816 Recognized by State Variety Approval Committee

Recently, a new high-yield, stable wheat variety developed by the China National Wheat Improvement Center (CNWIC) at Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS) of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), named as ‘ZhongMai 816’ (combination of CA9722 / RE 987), passed the appraisal by the China State Variety Approval Committee (coded Wheat No. 2013021). According to experts from ICS, the ‘ZhongMai 816’ is expected to extend in a large scale by virtue of the sable and high yield, water efficiency, and adaptability.

In the joint regional trials organized by ICS and IGDB-CAS (Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Chinese Academy of Sciences) during 2010-2011, the average yield of the new variety amounted to 561.3 kg/mu, 2.8% higher than that of the variety ZhongMai 175. It is the only variety that presents a significant increase in yield. In the trial of winter wheat in northern areas during 2011-2012, the average yield ranked first and amounted to 504.3 kg/mu, 9.4% higher than that of the variety ZhongMai 175, and yield increase sites took up 82%. In the continued trial during 2012-2013, the average yield ranked second and attained 427.3 kg/mu, 8.8% higher than that of the variety ZhongMai 175, and yield increase sites took up 100%. In the production test of 2012-2013, the average yield was the most among all varieties, 7.8% higher than that of the variety ZhongMai 175, and up to 401.8 kg/mu, and the increase was seen in all sites. In the water conservation test in ChangpingExperimetal Station during 2008-2010 (irrigation once in spring), the average yield reached 508.7 kg/mu, 17.8% higher than that of the variety Jingdong 8. It shows that ZhongMai 816 has prominent performance in yield, but also water efficiency and adaptability.

Generally, the new variety favors winter and is resistant to coldness. With a high maturity rate and medium tillering, the plants are 75-80 cm high and resistant to fall. Quite able to sprouting, the products are of high quality, and grains are red and plumy. Unlikely to suffer daejeon diseases, the plants mature about two days earlier than the parent variety RE 987, but one day later than the variety ZhongMai 175. For prominent heat resistance, the products are satisfactory. Averagely, the wheat spikes amount to 440,000 per mu, with 32.0 grains per spike and 40.3 grams per grain.

ZhongMai 816 is suitable for planting during winter in fertile irrigated land in North China as: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, and irrigated area in Alar, Xinjiang.