EMBRAPA 52 - A new wheat cultivar recommended for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

In order to meet the demands for higher grain yielding wheat (Triticum aest ivum L.) cultivars, in addition to higher resistance levels to diseases and better breadmaking quality, the cultivar EMBRAPA 52 was released in 1996 f or the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It was developed at Embrapa-Cent ro Nacional de Pesquisa de Trigo, showing early cycle, mid-high stature, an d resistance to aluminum soil conditions. It can show lodging problems unde r high soil fertility conditions and sprouting under delayed rains at harve st time. At releasing, it has shown good plant-health performance under fie ld conditions. At seedling stage, it was susceptible to five races of leaf rust and resistant to all races of stem rust found in Brazil. It is moderat ely susceptible to glume blotch and susceptible to loose smut. It is resist ant under field conditions to mildew and soil borne mosaic virus. Over the 1993-95 period, EMBRAPA 52 performed as the highest grain yielding wheat am ong all cultivars and lines tested in Rio Grande do Sul, producing 13% over the checks in the average of all locations of the State. Considering alveo graph and farinograph tests, it was preliminarily classified as superior in the commercial class, being indicated for breadmaking and to manufacture c rackers and pastry products.