Chinese, Pakistani scientists collaborate in wheat molecular breeding

By Rosheen Javed 

Recent successful events in Beijing included the first annual meeting of the China-Pakistan Joint Lab on Wheat Molecular Breeding. The meeting was attended by six distinguished Pakistani wheat scientists who had been invited to China for a 10-day training.

The Pakistani researchers met with senior Chinese scientists during the visit, and they also paid visits to three different Chinese provinces’ wheat production systems, including the corporate farming system in China as well as the country’s national and provincial wheat research programmes.

The visit was made possible and logistical support was given by the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing’s Science and Technology Wing.

According to Khan Muhammad Wazir, science and technology counsellor at the Pakistani embassy in Beijing, ″the collaboration is expected to develop new wheat varieties with high yield and disease resistance and to enhance the capacity of wheat breeders and technical staff.″

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) of China recently assisted in the establishment of the China-Pakistan Joint Lab on Wheat Molecular Breeding.

The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing has one branch of the lab, and Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan has the other. Scientists from both nations will collaborate on molecular breeding research through the joint lab’s platform, test and select Chinese wheat germplasm in Pakistan, train scientists and technical staff there, and hold workshops.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Pakistan’s National Agriculture Research Center, and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology have collaborated to support a joint lab project funded by the Science and Technology Partnership Program.

This project to carry out joint molecular breeding research, test selected Chinese germplasm in Pakistan, educate scientists, and host workshops. It is expected to increase the capacity of breeders and technical staff as well as develop new varieties with high yields and disease resistance.

The Joint Lab will serve as a platform for wheat breeding between China and Pakistan to offer technical and scientific assistance for Pakistan’s food security.

The largest food crop in Pakistan is wheat, and increasing wheat yield on a consistent basis is a strategic goal to guarantee food security in Pakistan. Pakistan can greatly benefit from China’s experience in developing high-yielding, disease-resistant, and high-quality wheat varieties through molecular breeding.