The site observation of “Zhongmai 175”, a new variety of wheat, was held in Wuqing, Tianjin on June 8th. Relevant experts attended the observation, including LIU Xu, Vice President of CAAS, academicians ZHUANG Qiao-sheng, DONG Yu-chen, CHENG Shun-he, Professor WANG Lian-zheng, andpersonnel from Crop Farming Department of MOA and National Agro-tech Extension and Service Centre etc.

This year, a bumper harvest is in sight for Zhongmai 175 planted in Wuqing, Tianjin. Experts predicted that the yield will reach 8701.5 kg ha-1 for the total about 6.67 ha (100 mu). Experts participating in the observation held that Zhongmai 175 boasts high yield potential and fine quality like cold, disease and lodging resistance, water-saving and short maturation period.

Zhongmai 175, bred by Dr. HE Zhonghu and his team of Institute of Crop Sciences of CAAS, has four features. First, high and stable yield. In places with abundant water and fertilizer, the variety will easily reach the high yield standard of producing 8250 kg ha-1. Second, strong resistance. Zhongmai 175 is resistant to coldness and is a major promotion variety of winter wheat in northern China. It is also lodging resistant and highly resistant to stripe rust and moderately resistant to powdery mildew. Third, water conservation. It can grow well in the fertile land in Yellow River and Huai River and grow better than the major variety Jingmai 47. Fourth, fine quality. The seed is white and plump. Its flour is superior to snowflake flour in whiteness, quality of noodles, taste, color and viscoelasticity. Besides, it contains high nutritive value with the content of Zinc at over 40 mg kg-1.

The cultivation area of Zhongmai 175 expands quickly, making it the main cultivar in Tianjin, Beijing, northern Hebei and Shanxi Provinces. In provinces like Gansu and Qinghai, it replaces spring wheat in large areas. It has been listed as the check variety in northern winter wheat area.