Introduction to the characteristics and traits of the Yumai 68 wheat variety

It was jointly bred by Henan Agricultural University, Xunxian Agricultural Experiment Station, Xunxian Foundation Seed Farm, and Xunxian Seed Company. In 2000, it passed the approval and naming of the Henan Provincial Crop Variety Approval Committee.

In the Henan Province super-high-yield spring water group regional trial, the average yield across 7 trial sites was 530.3 kg per 667 sq m, an increase of 2.16% over the control variety Yumai 18, ranking 1st. From 1999 to 2000, in the northern group production trial of the Henan Province late-sowing early-maturing group, the average yield across 11 trial sites was 449.5 kg per 667 sq m, an increase of 6.42%, ranking 1st.

According to analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture Grain Quality Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center (Beijing) in 2000, Yumai 68 had a moisture content of 11.2%, crude protein (dry basis) 15.13%, test weight 814 g/L, wet gluten 33.8%, dry gluten 10.9%, sedimentation value 41.0 ml, water absorption 62.0%, dough development time 4.0 minutes, and stability time 10.2 minutes. The baked bread weight was 150 g, bread volume 887 cm, and bread score 91.6.

This variety is highly resistant to stripe rust, stem rust, powdery mildew (grade 1), and leaf rust. It belongs to the type between partial winter and weak spring, with a growth period of 222 days. The seedlings are semi-prostrate, with dark green leaves and good cold tolerance. At the seedling stage, growth is vigorous and development is fast. Tillering ability is medium, the spike-forming rate is high, the spikes are large with many grains, and growth is robust. The three yield components are 6 million spikes per hectare, 38 grains per spike, and 40 g per 1,000 grains. The plant type is compact, the leaves are upright, and the coleoptile is green. The stems are thick and strong, with good elasticity; the general plant height is 78--82 cm, and in some years 90 cm. Before maturity, the stems, leaves, and spikes are bright yellow, and it has strong resistance to dry hot wind.

In the Huang-Huai wheat region, the sowing period for this variety is generally from October 10 to 20, and for late sowing, the end of October. It is suitable for planting in the hard wheat and strong-gluten flour wheat production areas of Henan Province and Anhui Province.