Introduction to the Characteristics and Traits of the Wanmai 44 Wheat Variety

I. Variety Origin: Wanmai 44 (formerly 96932) was bred by the Crop Research Institute of the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The parent combination is Zhengzhou 891 x Zhengzhou 831. On September 1, 2001, it passed the approval of the Anhui Provincial Variety Approval Committee (Variety Approval No.: Wan Pin Shen 01020322). II. Yield Performance and Suitable Planting Areas: In 1998-2000, it participated in the spring-type group regional trial of the Huaibei slice of Anhui Province. The average yield per mu was 426.9 kg and 526.8 kg respectively, an increase of 15.4% and 5.3% over the control Yumai 18-64, ranking second among the tested varieties in both years, and averaging a 10.4% increase over the control Yumai 18-64 over the two years. In August 2000, it passed the regional trial. In 2000-2001, it participated in the spring-type group production trial of the Huaibei slice. The five-point average yield per mu was 487.2 kg, an increase of 8.3% over the control Yumai 18-64, ranking first among the tested varieties. In August 2001, it passed the production trial. In a normal year, the field yield level is 400-550 kg per mu. This variety is suitable for planting in medium-to-high fertility and water plots in Huaibei and along the Huai River in our province, in medium and late stubble. III. Characteristics and Traits: Weak spring type, seedlings semi-prostrate, strong tillering ability, vigorous growth at the seedling stage, leaves erect after green-up, leaf color dark green. The three yield components are relatively coordinated: generally 350,000-400,000 effective spikes per mu, 34-40 grains per spike, and 1,000-grain weight of 38-42 g. Spike rectangular, spikelets closely arranged, spike-layer uniformity average. Good cold resistance, resistance to various diseases consistent with Yumai 18-64. Plant height 75-85 cm, relatively strong lodging resistance. Maturity period same as Yumai 18-64, 2-4 days earlier than Wanmai 19, good maturity appearance. White grain, grain texture floury to semi-horny, good glossiness and plumpness, test weight 780-810 g/L. Its quality, according to testing by the Grain Quality and Products Quality Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture (Harbin): horny rate 30.1 ml, water absorption 56.0%, development time 2.2 min, stability time 7.2 min, softening degree 70 B.U, evaluation value 50, maximum resistance 428 B.U, extensibility 14.9 cm, stretching area 87.7 sq cm, steamed bun volume 460 ml, steamed bun score 90. IV. Cultivation Points: This variety has a wide sowing-period flexibility, and can be sown from mid-October to early November, with the best sowing period from October 15 to the end of October. Basic seedlings per mu: 100,000-150,000 when sown in mid-October, 150,000-200,000 when sown in late October, and 200,000-250,000 when sown in November. The sowing method is mainly drilling. Before sowing, apply per mu 3-4 cubic meters of farmyard manure as base fertilizer, 8-12 kg of pure nitrogen, 5-6 kg of phosphorus pentoxide, and 4-6 kg of potassium oxide. At the jointing stage, apply a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer as appropriate according to seedling conditions. Spray jinggangmycin and fenxiuning at the early jointing stage, and spray fenxiuning at the booting to heading stage to prevent diseases. Authorized by the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wanmai 44 is exclusively produced and marketed by Hefei Fengle Seed Industry Co., Ltd.