This variety is also preferred by the farmers of Rajasthan for cultivation under normal sowing due to higher yield along with excellent grain quality, which provided them high premium in domestic market. This variety gave yield as good as Raj 3077 (4.0-5.0 t/ha). Raj 3077 is being occupied more than 50 percent area in the state but for the last 3-4 years it was observed susceptible to rusts under natural condition. In recognition of higher stability along with better productivity and resistance to rusts under mega environment of Rajasthan, this wheat variety was also recommended for normal sown irrigated condition for the whole state by the Zonal Research and Extension Advisory Committee (2000). Hence, recently this multifaceted wheat variety was further included in the package of practices for normal sown condition. Excellent performance of Raj 3765 to harvest higher yields along with better premium of produce in the domestic market, it has recently been attracted the farmers of Rajasthan to grow on more areas in normal sown condition too.

The most commonly grown wheat variety Sonalika and HD 2285 developed for such late sown situation have become low yielder in recent years due to susceptibility to brown and yellow rusts under field conditions. Similarly, a multifaceted wheat variety Raj 3077, promising varieties PBW 226 and UP 2338 have also become susceptible to rusts under natural conditions. Therefore, the need of another early maturing wheat variety coupled with high yield, heat tolerance and rust resistance was considered imperative for wheat breeders to meet the challenges of environmental constraints. The results of plant pathological screening nursery (1992-94; 1996-98) revealed that Raj 3765 variety has fairly high degree of resistance to rusts as compared to check varieties under different situations in the major wheat growing mega environment of NWPZ of India (Table 1). The research carried out on this aspect shows that Raj 3765 variety combining more than one gene (Lr23 + 10, Sr2 +) for resistance to maintain long lasting resistance (Nayar et al. 1994). Characterization of adult plant resistant genes (APR) studies repeated over years at Flowerdale, Shimla has shown the presence of race specific APR in Raj 3765 (Nayar 2001).

Quality attributes of the grains are decisive for the success of variety and also to fetch the remunerative price in domestic as well as in international market. Assessment of quality characteristics of Raj 3765 in different sowing environments of NWPZ showed that this variety has desirable quality parameters viz, mean protein value (11.8-12.5%), good chapatti score (8.0-8.2), good hectoliter weight (75.7-77.3 kg) and 1000-grain weight (36-41 g) which is preferred by the Indian consumers (Table 5). Besides this, Raj 3765 possesses superior grain quality comparable with desi wheat, preferred in local market on higher prices.

In built mechanism of this variety for higher yield along with heat tolerance and rust resistance, it is considered imperative to meet the challenges of environment constraints. Hence, Raj 3765 has potential to open up new vistas of boosting wheat production under mega environment of NWPZ, where new cropping sequences are emerging to produce more food for extra mouths and to earn more profitability from per unit area.

Acknowledgments

The authors are highly thankful to other scientists of Wheat Family (R A U) who helped in the development of Raj 3765 variety. The authors are sincerely grateful to the Project Director (AICW & BIP), Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal (Haryana) and Director Research, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan for providing necessary facilities during the development and testing of this wonderful heat tolerant wheat variety.