Background:
Wheat is most important rabi crop in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of North-Eastern Plains Zone of India. Despite the long-established advantages of sowing wheat by November 15th, many farmers throughout the NEPZ, especially those in the eastern IGP, sow their wheat crop later than recommended time. Terminal heat tolerance is a very important trait for enhanced grain filling, in all wheat growing situations, particularly under late sowing conditions of areas like eastern India.This issue has been addressed through developing climate resilient wheat varieties. Although varieties like HI1563, HUW234, HD1982, DBW107 etc. were released earlier for late sown irrigated conditions in the zone, however, these varieties have become susceptible to many diseases. Many of the older varieties do not possess many quality attributes. DBW 316 been developed and released by CVRC recommendation vide notification number S.O. 1056(E) dated 6th December, 2023:
Technology Details:
DBW316 As compared to the checks DBW316 has shown a superior yielding ability in late sown irrigated trials in terminal heat prone areas of Eastern Gangetic Plains over the three years of testing in the All India Coordinated multilocation wheat improvement trials. This variety has shown yield superiority over the checks HD3118 (7.0%) HI1621 (3.2%), HI1563 (1.8%) and at par with DBW107. The new variety has a high yield potential of 68.0 quintals/hectare with average yield of 41.0 q/ha under late sown conditions of NEPZ. In agronomic trials comparing performance under late sown (LS) and very late sown (VLS) conditions DBW316 showed least reduction (27.5) % in yield in VLS condition whereas yield reduction in other varieties was higher PBW833 (31.9%) PBW835 (38.3%), HI1563 (33.2%), HI1621 (34.3%), HD3118 (35.5%), and DBW107 (37.3%). Its 1000 grain weight is highest (40.0 g) among all the test/check entries in late sown varietal trial. DBW 316 has amber-coloured hard grains with a very high protein content (average 13.2 %). High protein content alongwith good level of Zn (average 38.1 ppm) and Fe (average 38.2 ppm) make this variety superior nutritional quality as compared to all the checks. Besides, the proposed variety is suitable for multiple products as indicated by high bread loaf volume (593 ml), high bread-quality (score 7.7), chapatti quality (score 7.4), biscuit spread factor (score 7.7), wet gluten (26.6%), dry gluten (8.8%) and sedimentation value of 51 ml. Grain hardness score of DBW316 is 77.2, whereas, hectolitre weight is 74.0. DBW316 is resistant to wheat rusts, foliar blight and wheat blast.