Question

Name the high yielding semi-dwarf varieties of wheat selected and introduced in India in 1963.

Answer 1

The development and production of semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and rice has increased their production rate throughout the world. Semi-dwarf wheat is the dominant variety of wheat that constitutes for almost 99 percent of total global wheat.

Complete answer:
Borlaug a Nobel laureate winner developed semi- dwarf varieties of wheat at the International Centre for Wheat and Maize improvement located in Mexico.
In 1963 several semi- dwarfs were obtained for example- sonalika, kalyan sona, these were high yielding and these were resistant varieties that were introduced all over regions of India where wheat is grown.
In the period between the period 1960 to 2000, the production of wheat increased by 75 million tonnes from 11 million tonnes. It was on behalf of the discovery of semi- dwarf varieties of both wheat and rice. Semi-dwarf is defined as a plant which is bigger than a
dwarf plant but smaller than usual. l Semi-dwarf varieties are now dominant varieties of wheat today that include 99% wheat production all over the world.
In 1963, several varieties of wheat like Sonalika and Kalyan Sona were developed. These varieties are disease resistant and also highly yielding were shown all over the wheat cultivation belt of India.

Characteristics of the semi-dwarf wheats includes:
1.They have Longer ears and short clums
2.A larger proportion of car weight at anthesis
3.A greater ratio of grain yield to post-anthesis leaf area.

Note: This semi-dwarf wheat that has developed has many benefits over normal wheat that is tall and wavy wheat. The tall wheat fell down due to the heavy weight of seeds on the top of the plant and if the head of the plant touches the ground, it is useless. In the semi-dwarf variety there is no such kind of problem of plant bending hence grains grow properly as these plants are dwarf. Semi-dwarf varieties possess short and tough stalks so it is easy for combines to harvest it and these are also resistant to wheat rust.