The Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding

HI 8663 (Poshan) is a novel genotype characterized by excellent grain quality, high and stable yield, and high resistance to stem and leaf rusts. It can serve as a naturally bi-fortified food and can be used for “dual purpose”, i.e., both for ‘nutritive chapati’ and semolina, required for fast food preparation, because of its high β-carotene, high hectoliter weight, high SDS sedimentation value, higher protein content, high levels of micronutrients, lowest mottling (yellow berry incidence) and having better overall acceptability (7.0) for pasta. The variety HI 8663 was developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute - Regional Station, Indore and released by the Central Sub-committee of Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties vide Notification No. SO(E) 1108 (Sl. No. 4) dated 8^th May 2008 for cultivation under high fertility irrigated and timely sown conditions of Peninsular Zone. It was developed from the cross HI 8177/HI 8185 through pedigree method of breeding.

HI 8663 is a widely adapted (highest frequency in non-significant group) and high yielding variety, showing 1.4% to 28.4% yield superiority over checks MACS 2846, NIDW 295 and GW 1189, as is evident from 3 years data on testing for yield in National trials by Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal. HI 8663 has shown good adaptation and at par performance with checks, NIDW 295 and GW 1189 to variations in sowing times and showed more number of tillers per sq. m, as compared to checks.These features have provided wide adaptability to this genotype. It exhibited high degree of adult plant resistance to two highly virulent stem rust pathotypes 40 A and 117-6, and four highly virulent leaf rust pathotypes 77-2, 77-5, 104-2 and 12-2; and seedling resistance to all the leaf rust pathotypes including 12-5 and 104-2, having high virulence on durum wheats. It combines early maturity, high stable yield and tolerance to terminal heat stress along with high resistance to stem and leaf rusts, which will ensure stability in wheat production and helps in realising better yield even under deficient irrigation availability in Central Zone.

HI 8663 has an excellent quality durum wheat with high β-carotene content (∼ 6.5 ppm) showing remarkable stability over growing seasons and locations. It has higher levels of important micronutrients like iron and manganese, compared to checks, and at par with other micronutrient contents. It has high hectolitre weight, high protein content (∼ 12%), high sedimentation value (35 ml) and low yellow berry incidence. It showed high hardness index and lower cooking time and gruel solid loss as compared to checks. Its overall acceptability (7.0) is significantly higher than that of checks NIDW 295 and GW 1189. These traits advocate that HI 8663 can be used as an excellent “dual quality” durum for preparation of “nutritive chapati” and good quality pasta as well.