@article{Joshi_Mudwari_Bhatta_2009, title={Wheat Genetic Resources in Nepal}, volume={7}, url={https://nepjol.info/index.php/NARJ/article/view/1859}, DOI={10.3126/narj.v7i0.1859}, abstractNote={Genetic diversity must be maintained and utilized for sustainable agriculture development. The<br />amount of genetic diversity in the country depends on the number and diversity of the original<br />ancestors involved in the creation of a germplasm pool, wild relatives and existing landraces.<br />The objective of this research was to study the diversity of wheat gene pool present in the<br />Nepalese bread wheat cultivars and landraces that could help for developing conservation and<br />utilization strategy effectively. We examined the pedigrees of 35 Nepalese wheat cultivars and<br />surveyed the literature for distribution of landraces and wild relatives of wheat. Cultivated<br />landraces of spring and winter type, wild landraces and diploid species of wheat are found in<br />Nepal. There are 35 improved wheat cultivars, 540 landraces and 10 wild relatives of wheat.<br />Crosses between winter and spring wheat gene pools are far more common and offer a new<br />source of diversity. Mexico, India and Nepal are the origin countries for 35 cultivars. In Nepal<br />four cultivars were bred and developed using foreign landraces and maximum number of<br />cultivars was developed in Mexico. Lerma 52, first improved cereal variety to be released in the<br />history of cereal breeding in Nepal was released in 1960. A total of 89 ancestors originated in 22<br />different countries were used to develop these cultivars. Highest number of ancestors was from<br />India. Ancestors of both <em>aestivum</em> and <em>durum</em> species having winter, spring and intermediate<br />growth habit indicated the collection of wide gene pool. Most of the ancestors were <em>aestivum</em><br />(76.40%) and spring growth habit (57.31%). Modern varieties are replacing the landraces and<br />improved old varieties resulted in the genetic erosion. Therefore, <em>in situ</em>, on farm and <em>ex situ</em><br />conservations are necessary for maintaining these genetic variations. Unutilization of local<br />landraces in breeding program may be the major factor that causes to accelerate the genetic<br />erosion. Gene pool from these landraces along with international gene pool could make towards<br />success in developing high yielding cultivars with wide adaptability. In this study, cultivars and<br />landraces surveyed represent a wide range of variation for different areas of origin and<br />adaptation.<br /><br /><strong>Key words:</strong> Ancestor; landrace; origin; wheat gene pool<br /><br />DOI: 10.3126/narj.v7i0.1859<br /><br /><em>Nepal Agriculture Research Journal</em> Vol.7 2006 pp.1-10}, journal={Nepal Agriculture Research Journal}, author={Joshi, BK and Mudwari, A and Bhatta, MR}, year={2009}, month={May}, pages={1–10} }