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Bulletin of the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University

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Results and prospects of wheat breeding in Kyrgyzstan

O Oleg Pakhomeev V Vasila Ibragimova
Received 12.11.2024
Revised 01.02.2025
Published 12.03.2025

Abstract

Wheat plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in the Kyrgyz Republic. Annually, approximately 250,000 hectares are allocated for wheat cultivation, with the area reaching up to 535,000 hectares in certain years (e.g. 1996). Wheat is grown on irrigated, semi-irrigated, and rainfed lands across the country and is used to produce bread and related products. The development and use of initial breeding material at the early stage of breeding programmes is a key factor in improving their effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of wheat breeding programmes in Kyrgyzstan from 1935 to 2024, focusing on the development of high yielding and well-adapted varieties, and identifying future directions for their enhancement under the conditions of the Kyrgyz Research Institute of Agriculture. It was established that both cultivated and wild platforms are used as initial breeding material. The main methods employed in wheat breeding include the use of natural and hybrid populations, as well as induced mutations and polyploid forms. The use of both intraspecific and distant hybridisation in the breeding activities of the Department of Wheat Breeding and Primary Seed Production has enabled the development of original genetic material. Through individual selection, this material has led to the creation of varieties approved for cultivation in the Kyrgyz Republic, including Lutescens 46, Adyr, and Erythrospermum 13. In global climate change, the development of varieties adapted to local soil and climatic conditions remains a key objective. Individual selection helps to identify forms with increased adaptability, while the adaptive potential of winter wheat is enhanced by genetic recombination. Primary seed production remains a vital factor in the sustainable development of the sector. The Green Evolution of wheat breeding in Kyrgyzstan is associated with the introduction of high-yielding winter and spring wheat varieties possessing valuable agronomic traits. The study highlighted the need for further improvement in breeding programmes to ensure resilient agricultural production under changing climate conditions

Keywords

food; security; irrigation; initial material; the Green revolution; variety; primary seed production
Suggested citation
Pakhomeev, O., & Ibragimova, V. (2025). Results and prospects of wheat breeding in Kyrgyzstan. Bulletin of the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University, 23(1), 79-90. https://doi.org/10.63621/bknau./1.2025.79

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