Two PAU wheat varieties selected for national release

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has once again stamped its excellence on the national map with the identification of two high-yielding wheat varieties (PBW 915 and PBW 906) for release at the national level.

The announcement came during the 64th All India Wheat and Barley Research Workers Meet in Gwalior, where the Varietal Identification Committee (VIC) of the ICAR recognised PAU’s contributions to sustainable crop development and zone-specific adaptability.

The varieties, tested rigorously over three years, promise enhanced productivity and disease resistance, offering new hope to farmers across diverse agro-climatic regions.

PBW 915 variety is suited for areas with timely irrigation in the North eastern plains zone, including states like Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam and nearby regions.

Over three years of testing, this variety showed strong results with an average yield of 52.5 quintal per hectare. It performed better than several existing varieties and topped national trials in grain yield and plant growth. Importantly, it is resistant to yellow and brown rust, two major wheat diseases.

PBW 906 is recommended for early sowing under high-input farming in the central zone, covering Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan and Jhansi region of Uttar Pradesh. It gave an impressive average yield of 67.4 quintal per hectare and outperformed many popular varieties. It is resistant to brown rust and shows moderate resistance to black rust.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said, “These varieties are expected to benefit farmers with better yields and disease resistance, contributing to food security and improved farm income.”