Development of "Kn199" new winter wheat variety and its cultivation in China

Secale cereal and Thinopyrum elongatum have been successfully applied in wheat genetic improvement in North China. By crossing "Kn9204" (a 1RS/1BL translocated and derivative of wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum partial amphiploid) with "Shi4185", a new variety (named "Kn199") with a high and stable grain output had been developed and approved by the National Crop Variety Approval Committee (NCVAC) in 2006. "Kn199" was an early-maturing variety, with compact plant form, 75~80 cm plant height, spindle spike and short awn. Its grain filing time was short. The grains were plumping with 40~42 g of 1000-grain weight. The yield "Kn199" was significantly higher than that of the control variety "Shi4185". Because of developed root system, and higher root activity at later growth stage, "Kn199" could absorb water and nutrient more efficiently even those in deep soil. The cultivation showed that the variety was adaptable to a large range of environments and resistant to adversity with a stably high yield. The release of "Kn199" had seen a rapid propagate of the wheat variety. "Kn199" had now become one of the major varieties in the northern region of the Huang-Huai Winter Wheat Production Base, including southern and central Hebei, Shandong, northern Henan and southern Shanxi.