Heat and drought-resistant wheat varieties in Pakistan help farmers combat climate change stress, and validate the success of physiological breeding.

CGIAR Research Program on Wheat. 2019. Heat and drought-resistant wheat varieties in Pakistan help farmers combat climate change stress, and validate the success of physiological breeding.. Reported in Wheat Annual Report 2019. Outcome Impact Case Report.

The stress of climate change on wheat production means farmers urgently need more heat and drought tolerant varieties. CGIAR Research Program on WHeat (WHEAT) scientists combined genetic diversity with physiological and molecular breeding and bio-informatic technologies, to deliver 3 lines specifically bred for increased heat/drought-tolerance in Pakistan. As reported in 2018, 100,000+ Pakistani farmers grew one or more of these 3 lines, Pakistani NARS partners released 6 new drought and heat or drought-tolerant wheat lines in 2019.