| Wheat collecting expedition to Afghanistan G. M. HALLORAN Agricultural Research Institute, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia From mid-August to mid-November, 1965 the author accompanied a British Expedition from the University of Reading's Exploration Society for wheat collecting in Afghanistan. The principal aim of the expedition was to obtain species and varieties of Triticum and of closely related genera, but at the same time samples of Hordeum species, both cultivated and wild, grasses, pasture legumes, field peas and beans were collected. The expedition obtained about 1,900 samples, approximately 1,500 of which were of species and varieties of Triticum. The wheats were predominantly Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare types but many species and subspecies of the tetraploid and hexaploid levels of Triticum were obtained, although all were of reasonably rare occurrence. The wheat collection has, however, to be closely examined and taxonomically classified before a detailed account of the species and subspecies constitution can be given. Two almost identical sets of specimens were collected, one of which will be grown at the Plant Breeding Institute. Cambridge, England and the other at the Agricultural Research Institute, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. Specific interest will be shown in this collection in Australia from the points of view of the nature and genetics of phasic development, disease resistance, and in particular possible resistance to take-all, Ophiobolus graminis, and possible new sources of good baking-quality characteristics. It is anticipated that other interests of wheat breeders in the material of this collection will be made known, to whom seed supplies will become available late in 1966 subsequent to initial seed multiplication. It was the aim of the expedition to attempt to collect as wide a range of new genetic diversity as was possible from the country. The approach to a problem of this nature was very difficult to place upon a very rational basis, that is the choice of the particular areas of the country wherein collection would be thought to have most adequately satisfied this aim. One criterion for the choice of collecting are as was that of a wide difference of habitat type. For this purpose three habitat types were specified wherein intensive collecting activities would be carried out. These habitat types were as follows: 1. Very high altitude habitat, 2. Moderately high altitude habitat, 3. Lowland semi-desert habitat. |
| The editorial comment : The results of the Kyoto University Scientific Expedition to the Karakoram and Hindukush, 1955, Vol.1 has just been published by the Committee of the Kyoto University Scientific Expedition to the Karakoram and Hindukush, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, 1965. The volume contains the research reports on "Cultivated Plants and Their Relatives" including wheat and related genera. (K.Y.) |
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