ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Tarnab Rehbar: A New High-Yielding, Rust- Resistant and Zinc Bio Fortified Bread Wheat Variety for Late and Irrigated Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
 
More details
Hide details
1
Agriculture Research Institute (ARI), Tarnab, Peshawar-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
 
2
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
 
3
Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Swabi, Anbar-23561, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
 
4
Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling District, Xianyang, Shaanxi , China
 
5
Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI), Pirsabaq-Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
 
6
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
 
 
Submission date: 2025-01-30
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-04-22
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-06-12
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-08-21
 
 
Corresponding author
Haneef Raza   

Agriculture Research, Cereal section (Wheat breeding), Agriculture Research Institute, Tarnab Peshawar, Pakistan
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Developing high-yielding wheat varieties that are tolerant to both abiotic and biotic stresses is a significant challenge currently faced by wheat breeders. The Agriculture Research Institute (ARI), Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan, has released a new wheat variety, Tarnab Rehbar (varietal code TRB-2- 103). Tarnab Rehbar outperformed the check variety Pirsabak-15, yielding 27.3% and 10.8% higher grain yields in preliminary (2017-2018) and regular yield trials (2018-2019), respectively. Subsequent outstation yield trials conducted across 14 locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2019-2020) and 31 and 40 locations nationwide (2020-2021, 2021-2022) confirmed the variety’s stable performance and disease resistance. Agronomic field trials and quality lab testing were conducted simultaneously. Tarnab Rehbar is characterized by medium plant height, dark green color at booting, a strong stem, and a welldeveloped peduncle. The spikes are well-structured with moderate awns, and the seeds are uniform in size, white, and have a notable 1000-grain weight. Additionally, it boasts a high protein content and impressive yield potential. DNA fingerprinting was performed to compare the genetic background of Tarnab Rehbar with 21 previously registered wheat varieties. Due to its consistent performance across multiple locations, improved grain yield, nutritional quality, and rust resistance, the Provincial Seed Council approved the release of Tarnab Rehbar in 2023 for general cultivation in the late and irrigated areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Introducing this variety into wheat production systems can help reduce fungicide use, promote healthier ecosystems, minimize pesticide residues in wheat products, and address health challenges such as regional malnutrition and zinc deficiencies.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top