NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR WHEAT - EMBRAPA
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Trigo, BR 285, Km 174, Caixa Postal 451, 99001-970, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Leo J.A. Del Duca, Cantídio N.A. Sousa, Aroldo G. Linhares, Pedro L. Scheeren, Marcio Soe Silva, Alfredo Nascimento Junior, Renato S. Fontaneli, Osmar Rodrigues, Gilberto R. Cunha, Eliana M. Guarienti, Martha Z. Miranda, Leila M. Costamilan, Maria Imaculada P.M. Lima, Marcia S. Chaves, and Ariano M. Prestes.
In order to provide alternatives that will diversify sowing
times and cycles and with the aim of minimizing the risks associated
with wheat culture, the wheat cultivar BRS Umbu was released in
2003 for the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and in 2004 for southcentral
Paraná (PR). Developed by Embrapa Trigo, BRS Umbu was derived
from the single cross 'Century/B 35'. BRS Umbu has semilate cycle
after early sowing (the cultivar was selected while looking for
a late-early cycle with an emergency-heading period longer than
the conventional early cultivars) and medium stature. The cultivar
is moderately resistant in the field to powdery mildew under natural
infection and moderately resistant to glume blotch and scab under
artificial inoculation. In spite of its seedling susceptibility
to the group of leaf rust races, BRS Umbu has been resistant with
low severity under field conditions consistently over the years
under high inoculum pressure. Seedling reaction under both greenhouse
and field conditions is evidence that the cultivar shows adult
plant-resistance. BRS Umbu is resistant to natural deiscence of
the spike and moderately resistant to soil aluminum toxicity and
lodging under normal soil fertility conditions. Tested in early
sowings and under double purpose use (forage production and grain)
in Rio Grande do Sul and southcentral Parana between 1999 and
2002, BRS Umbu produced 1,448 kg/ha of dry matter with one clipping,
27 % greater than that of the common black oat (dry matter check),
when averaged over different locations that varied according to
the year (Passo Fundo, Cruz Alta, Vacaria, São Borja, and
Uruguaiana in RS and Guarapuava, Ponta Grossa, and Castro in PR).
In these same tests, grain-yield averages were 3,806 kg/ha and
3,011 kg/ha for treatments without and with one clipping, respectively.
These averages were 27 % (without clipping) and 39 % (one clipping)
greater than the average of two of the better, early wheat checks
(among BR 23, BR 35, CEP 24, CEP 27, and OCEPAR 21), which varied
for location and year. BRS Umbu is classified as a soft wheat,
to be used for crackers, cookies, sweet shop products, pizzas,
fresh pasta, and in mixes with wheat for bread and/or domestic
use. Dry matter and grain-yield trials and validation activities
with this cultivar were through a partnership between Embrapa
Trigo, Fundacao Pro-Sementes, Fundacao Agraria, and Fundacao ABC
in RS and PR.
Leo de J. A. Del Duca and Eliana M. Guarienti.
Brazil has 175 x 10^6^ inhabitants that consume nearly 1 x 10^9^ tons of wheat annually. With the opening of the Brazilian economy in the 1990s, a proimport policy and a large Argentinian surplus discouraged local wheat production. Beginning in 1999 with changes in the policy favoring exports and hindering imports, the price parity of imported wheat started to influence domestic prices. Thus, attractive prices in the national production had positive influence in Brazilian agribusiness. The 2003 Brazilian wheat production exceeded 5 x 10^6^ tons and clearly showed an reversal in the behavior of farmers (P.M. Rabelo, http://conab.gov.br). The 2003 national wheat crop (5,552.2 tons) represents an increase of 90 % when compared to previous crops (Table 1). Such production is the result of a 20 % increase in the cultivated area and a notable productivity gain of 49.5 % in relation to the previous year. Farmers were stimulated by favorable prices from 2002 business and industrial partnerships. This progress was due to the confidence in research recommendations and favorable weather conditions, a decisive factor for yield and quality of the crop. This is the largest production registered in a free-market context after deregulation in the wheat sector in 1990. The 6 x 10^6^ tons recorded in 1987 were obtained by artificially maintaining prices, not considering international competition, and not allowing the farmer to evaluate his capacity and efficiency.
| State | Production (1,000 t) | Grain yield (kg/ha) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | |
| Parana | 1,621.6 | 2,829.9 | 1,435 | 2,395 |
| Santa Catarina | 82.2 | 141.0 | 1,550 | 1,900 |
| Rio Grande do Sul | 977.6 | 2,189.9 | 1,300 | 2,100 |
| Total for southern Brazil | 2,681.4 | 5,160.8 | 1,386 | 2,245 |
| Minas Gerais | 26.7 | 30.1 | 4,450 | 4,300 |
| Sao Paulo | 59.5 | 104.7 | 1,700 | 2,200 |
| Total for southeastern Brazil | 86.2 | 134.8 | 2,102 | 2,469 |
| Mato Grosso do Sul | 78.8 | 184.1 | 860 | 1,980 |
| Goias | 45.1 | 67.0 | 2,200 | 3,990 |
| Distrito Federal | 2.3 | 5.5 | 4,535 | 4,600 |
| Total for west central Brazil | 126.2 | 256.6 | 1,121 | 2,312 |
| Total for all Brazil | 2,893.8 | 5,552.2 | 1,386 | 2,253 |
Progress in productivity and quality is expected in the states with larger wheat production, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná. Because of greater production, offer concentration, and pressure exercised by the imported product, trading in these states has been difficult for the producers. High purchases in external markets during the initial stage of national crop circumvented the expected follow-up. Thus, the federal government introduced business-regulating mechanisms, announced credit and favorable instruments, and auctioned contracts of option of sale of 800,000 tons of wheat. The intent was to decrease offer pressure, allowing the producer to compensate for the inevitable elevation of the prices, up to mid-2004.
The juncture for the wheat sector is more promising at present, because a pool of coöperatives in RS and PR, in a pioneer initiative in Brazil, began to export wheat to Europe and Asia. Thus, becuase of the quality in this crop and the reduction in world wheat offer, Brazil stepped into the international market, exporting about 500,000 tons of wheat.
Wheat production in southern Brazilian, despite efforts of the producers and research progress, critically depends on the climate, which is not restricted to Brazil. In addition to production losses, elevating costs identify wheat as a high-risk crop. Such circumstances must be considered when planning any increase in Brazilian production in an attempt to alleviate national expenses with imports. Research has shown promising results, and farmers have followed technical recommendations. However, to achieve a balance in commercial conditions, adjusting internal tariffs in relation to the subsidized imports as well as the tariffs for the imported inputs used in production is necessary (M. Júnior, http://conab.gov.br). West central Brazil confirmed its potential for incrementing wheat production. The southern states of RS and PR, responsible for more than 90 % of national wheat production, a crop with increments of 98 % and 87 %, respectively, was obtained. Brazil advanced the goal of producing more than half of total consumption of wheat in the country, reducing the demand for imported product mainly from Argentina, where the tendency to speculate on prices was due to a probable crop reduction in 2003. In this scenario, increasing interest in Brazilian wheat is assumed, making good trading conditions for producers, encouraging the next winter crop, and relieving expenses with imports. The 2003 Brazilian wheat crop can be a mark for the sustained growth of production in Brazil. The entire chain of production, in order to maintain such growth and elevate domestic consumption of wheat and derived products, needs to reach a higher position in the world scenario, which is showing fundamental signs of future changes (http://conab.gov.br/download/safra/safra 20032004Lev02.pdf).
Leo de J.A. Del Duca and Eliana M. Guarienti.
During the 2001-02 wheat season in Brazil, each of the 23 cultivars listed in Table 2 made up more than 1 % of the total seed available. Information about the pedigree and industrial quality of the cultivars is provided.
| Rank | Cultivar | Cross | Seed (t) | % | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IAPAR 78 | VEE SIB/BOW SIB | 25,823.08 | 10.50 | bread |
| 2 | CD 104 | PFAU SIB/IAPAR 17 | 24,565.40 | 9.27 | strong |
| 3 | BRS 49 | BR 35/PF 83619//PF 858/PF 8550 | 20,741.82 | 7.83 | bread |
| 4 | BRS 179 | BR 35/PF 8596/3/PF 772003*2/PF 813//PF 83899 | 17,728.11 | 6.69 | soft |
| 5 | Rubi | PF 869107/Klein H 3450 C 3131 | 14,599.32 | 5.51 | bread |
| 6 | Fundacep 30 | BR 32/CEP 21//Ciano 79 | 12,042.36 | 4.54 | soft |
| 7 | CEP 24-Industrial | BR 3/CEP 7887//CEP 7775/CEP 11 | 11,448.52 | 4.32 | bread |
| 8 | OR 1 | EMBRAPA 27/Bagula SIB | 11,390.55 | 4.30 | bread |
| 9 | CEP 27-Missoes | CEP 8057/Butuí//CEP 8324 | 10,381.35 | 3.92 | soft |
| 10 | IAPAR 53 | Sulino/IA 7929 | 9,405.46 | 3.55 | bread |
| 11 | Alcover | Ocepar 16/EMBRAPA 27//Ocepar 16 | 8,633.75 | 3.26 | bread |
| 12 | BR 18-Terena | D6301/NAI60//Weique/Red Mace/3/CIA*2/Chris=ALD45 SEL | 8,315.65 | 3.14 | bread |
| 13 | BRS 120 | PF 83899/PF 813//F 27141 | 6,865.32 | 2.59 | soft |
| 14 | Trigo | BR 23 CC/ALD SIB/3/IAS 54-20/COP//CNT 8 | 6,719.50 | 2.54 | soft |
| 15 | IPR 84 | ANA 75/PF 7455/PF 72556/3/Pamir SIB/ALD SIB//KAVKO SIB | 5,383.02 | 2.03 | bread |
| 16 | CD 105 | PFAU SIB/2*Ocepar 14//IAPAR 41 | 4,672.32 | 1.76 | soft |
| 17 | IPR 85 | IAPAR 30/BR 18 | 4,454.14 | 1.68 | strong |
| 18 | Granito | PF 869107/Klein H 3450 C 3131 | 4,416.57 | 1.67 | bread |
| 19 | Avante | PF 89232/2*OR 1 | 4,306.44 | 1.63 | bread |
| 20 | BRS 208 | CPAC 89118/3/BR 23//CEP 19/PF 85490 | 3,219.96 | 1.22 | bread |
| 21 | Fundacep 32 | CEP 85155/3/CEP 7780*2//H499.71A/4*JUP 73/4/BR 23 | 3,199.47 | 1.21 | soft |
| 22 | Embrapa 42 | LAP 689/MS 7936 | 3,038.40 | 1.15 | strong |
| 23 | Fundacep 31 | BR 8//PVN/ANI SIB | 2,744.02 | 1.04 | bread |
| Other cultivars * | 38,883.05 | 14.67 | |||
| Total | 264,977.58 | 100.00 | |||
| * Different cultivars (44) with less than 1 % of the seed availability are not listed. | |||||
Considering the industrial quality of these cultivars, only seven are classified as soft wheats (BRS 179, Fundacep 30, CEP 27-Missoes, BRS 120, Trigo BR 23, CD 105, and Fundacep 32). The remaining genotypes, including CD 104, IPR 85, and Embrapa 42 (strong gluten), are considered to be of good bread-making quality. Nearly 53 % of seed production is in only eight cultivars, IAPAR 78, CD 104, BRS 49, BRS 179, Rubi, Fundacep 30, CEP 24-Industrial, and OR 1 (each cultivar with more than 4 % of the total seed available) out of 67 cultivars used in all the Brazilian states.
A more diverse number of cultivars is desirable considering the extent of the Brazilian wheat-cropping area in 2001-02 (nearly 2.09 million ha) and great ecological diversity. Because the Brazilian wheat crop is highly dependent on the climatic variations, which contributes to acrop failure every 3-4 years (FNP Consultoria & Trade Ltda., Agrianual 2002), genotype diversification could reduce risk.
Seed of IAPAR 78 was in greater availability in Brazil for the 2001-02 crop (10.5 %). Cultivars CD 104, BRS 49, BRS 179, Rubi, Fundacep 30, CEP 24-Industrial, and OR 1 also were available with 4.30-9.27 % of the Brazilian seed.
Leo de J.A. Del Duca and Eliana M. Guarienti.
The most important wheat cultivars of each Brazilian state are
listed in Table 3. Additional information regarding the pedigree
of the genotype and its industrial quality classification also
is presented. The states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul
are responsible for most Brazilian wheat production. The Brazilian
wheat-producing area is widespread, covering many different growing
conditions in the different states, including rainfed or irrigated
fields, presence or absence of aluminum toxicity in the soil,
and high or low soil fertility levels. Of the three cultivars
with the greatest seed availability in each state, the most widely
seeded Brazilian wheat cultivars in 2001-02 season were BRS 179
and Rubi, outstanding in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina;
BRS 49 in Santa Catarina and Paraná; IAPAR 78 in Paraná
and Mato Grosso do Sul; Embrapa 22 in Minas Gerais and Goiás;
and BR 18-Terena in São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, and
Goiás.
| State | Cultivar name | Cross | Quality | Availability | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS | BRS 179 | BR 35/PF 8596/3/PF 772003*2/PF 813//PF 83899 | soft | 15,870.47 | 16.67 |
| FUNDACEP 30 | BR 32/CEP 21//CIANO 79 | soft | 12,042.36 | 12.65 | |
| Rubi | PF869107/KL H 3450 C 3131 | bread | 10,568.59 | 11.10 | |
| SC | Rubi | PF 869107/KL H 3450 C 3131 | bread | 2.284.86 | 26.41 |
| BRS 179 | BR 35/PF 8596/3/PF 772003*2/PF 813//PF 83899 | soft | 1,812.84 | 20.95 | |
| BRS 49 | BR 35/PF 83619//PF 858/PF 8550 | bread | 1,180.00 | 13.64 | |
| PR | IAPAR 78 | VEE SIB/BOW SIB | bread | 27,772.98 | 18.24 |
| CD 104 | PFAU SIB/IAPAR 17 | strong | 24,565.40 | 16.14 | |
| BRS 49 | BR 35/PF 83619//PF 858/PF 8550 | bread | 11,104.50 | 7.29 | |
| SP | IAC 350-Giuapa 2 | 109-36/SERI | bread | 1,614.44 | 45.5 |
| IAC 24-Tucurua | IAS 51/IRN 597-70 | strong | 987.08 | 27.83 | |
| BR 18-Terena | D6301/NAI60//Weique/Red Mace/3/CIA*2/CHR=ALD45SEL | bread | 799.24 | 22.53 | |
| MS | BR 18-Terena | D6301/NAI60//Weique/Red Mace/3/CIA*2/CHR=ALD45SEL | bread | 740.41 | 84.51 |
| BR 17-Caiuá | Tezanos Pinto Precoz//IRN 46/Ciano/3/II-64-27 | strong | 85.65 | 9.78 | |
| IAPAR 78 | VEE SIB/BOW SIB | bread | 50.10 | 5.72 | |
| MG | Embrapa 22 | VEE SIB/3/KLTO SIB/PAT 19//MO/JUP | bread | 136.85 | 100.00 |
| GO | Embrapa 42 | LAP 689/MS 7936 | strong | 3,038.40 | 70.30 |
| BR 18-Terena | D6301/NAI60//Weique/Red Mace/3/CIA*2/CHR=ALD45 SEL | bread | 561.60 | 12.99 | |
| Embrapa 22 | bread | 434.00 | 6.66 |