ISLAMABAD: The Pakis­tan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has released four new rust-resistant wheat varieties including a bio-fortified variety having 50 per cent zinc contents.

“The bio-fortified variety is the first-ever such introduction in the list of recommended varieties for farmers’ choice in any agro-ecology,” Chairman PARC Variety Evaluation Committee Dr Shahid Masood said on Tuesday.

Zinc is a metal also called an essential trace element because very small amounts of zinc are necessary for human health.

The new wheat variety, having 50 per cent zinc, has health benefits particularly for children and women. All the new varieties introduced are also resistant to the different types of rusts, which have been one of the major biotic threats to wheat production.

These varieties could resist the all stem rust races including, UG-99, which has been infecting the wheat crop all across the world and RRTTF, which has been threatening for wheat crop in Sindh.

The PARC scientist expressed the hope that the new varieties will bring diversity in the existing wheat genetic pool and help in sustained productivity, hence promoting agriculture production all across the country.

PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad lauded the efforts of the scientists.

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

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