In recent news, the wheat variety MACS 6478 has given farmers in the Maharashtra village of Karanjkhop twice their usual crop yield.
Origin and Development
MACS 6478 was developed by scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune, an autonomous institute operating under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The new breed belongs to Triticum aestivum, commonly known as bread wheat. Other popular wheat types include durum wheat (T. durum) and club wheat (T. compactum).
Nature of MACS 6478
This variant is a hybrid crop, produced by crossbreeding two genetically different varieties or species. Hybrids often occur naturally when open-pollinated plants cross-pollinate with other related varieties. This process occurs spontaneously and randomly in nature and does not involve genetic modification.
Growth and Resistance
MACS 6478 matures in 110 days, faster than the typical wheat variants which mature in 140-150 days. Besides accelerating maturity, this breed is resistant to most races of leaf and stem rust, further enhancing its suitability for cultivation.
Nutritional Profile and Yield
Despite its amber color and medium size, MACS 6478 packs a punch in nutritional value, containing 14% protein, 44.1 ppm zinc, and 42.8 ppm iron, higher than other cultivated varieties. Farmers have reported a yield of 45-60 quintal per hectare with this variety, significantly higher than the 25-30 quintal yield from older variants like Lok 1 and HD 2189.
Other ARI Wheat Varieties
ARI has also bred other wheat variants like MACS 4028, a bio-fortified durum variant high in protein, iron, and zinc content. It matures in just over 100 days and is appropriate for cultivation in rainfed and low fertility conditions in Maharashtra and Karnataka. ARI has also bred MACS 2971, a high-yield variant of the traditionally cultivated ‘khapli’ wheat, known for its high dietary fiber content.
Cultivation Uses
The Karan Vandana (DBW 187) wheat variant, developed by the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) under ICAR, is used for cultivation in North Eastern Plains Zones.
Additional Achievements by ARI
Aside from their work in wheat breeding, ARI scientists found the first synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules related to treating tuberculosis and chikungunya. They discovered the cause behind the pink color of Lonar lake water in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district – a large presence of ‘Haloarchaea’ microbes. They also mapped two alternative dwarfing genes in wheat that can help reduce rice crop residue burning, otherwise known as stubble burning. Their research led to the isolation and cultivation of 45 different strains of methanotrophs, creating the first indigenous methanotroph culture. In addition, they conducted a study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin.