Modern breeding and agronomy of field crops – innovative solutions and perspectives

On 7 June, an Open Day was held once again at the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute near the town of General Toshevo. This year it took place within the framework of the event “Days of Todor Rachinski” on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the birth of the eminent Bulgarian wheat breeder. Todor Rachinski was a wheat breeder at the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute from 1963 until his death. He was Director of the Institute from 1974 to 1980. He created 22 wheat varieties. He ended his life’s journey on 26 December 1980 in a car accident, leaving behind a lasting legacy and valuable heritage for future generations. The International Scientific Conference “Modern Breeding and Agrotechnics of Field Crops – Innovative Solutions and Perspectives” was also dedicated to this anniversary.

The main purpose of the Open Day is to invite farmers, business partners and scientists from all over the country to unite around the idea of supporting the production and market realization of seeds of high-quality and high-yielding Bulgarian varieties of cereal crops. This is because it is an undisputed fact that, for the conditions in Bulgaria, the most suitable for cultivation remain the varieties of Bulgarian breeding, since, already at their creation, breeders focus on characteristics that make them suitable for cultivation under the soil and climatic conditions of the country. In addition, the aim is not only a high yield potential, but also high grain quality. In this way, Bulgarian varieties become a guarantee of security for domestic agriculture.

More than 40 cereal crop varieties, created and grown in the experimental fields and production plots of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute, were presented. On that day, those present had the opportunity to see on site the development of stands of common and durum wheat, triticale and barley varieties. Among them are common wheat varieties from Group A, distinguished by excellent grain quality – Aglika, Milena, Lazarka, Merilin, Galateya and Pchelina; from Group B – Bozhana, Stoyana, Rada, Kristi, Karina, Korona, Kosara, Goritsa, Kami, Kalina, Katarzhina, Enola, Sladuna, Kiara and Dragana; durum wheat – Malena, Severina, Mirela, Melina and Mirabel; triticale – Dobrudzanets, Kolorit, Blagovest, Respect, Doni-52, Borislav and Atila; barley Tangra and Akhat. Specialists from the Institute informed the large audience on specific issues related to the main advantages and cultivation technology of the varieties offered.

Representatives of the latest breeding of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute near the town of General Toshevo are the wheat varieties Nikodim, Fani and Laska, the triticale Borislav and the durum wheat Malena, as well as the soft wheat variety of alternative type Moresa. Among the sunflower hybrids, particular interest was aroused by the conventional Deveda, the imidazolinone-tolerant Engima and the sulfonylurea-tolerant Dara.

A distinctive feature of the latest cereal crop breeding of DAI is their ecological plasticity, resistance to the most widespread diseases, high yield potential and very good grain quality.