ACI invents two varieties of wheat suitable for bakery

Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) Limited has invented two varieties of wheat that are suitable for bakery food production.

The varieties — ACI Gom1 and ACI Gom2 — have been unveiled at the 108th National Seed Board meeting under the chairmanship of President of the National Seed Board Sayedul Islam at the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

ACI Gom1 contained all the properties of high-yielding wheat. Its panicle is taller in size. The height range of this plant is 100cm to 105 cm and the number of tillers of each plant is 6-7.

Its leaves are wide and deep green in colour, while the average grain count per panicle is 51.

The colour of the grain of this variety is amber, glossy, and big in size. The weight per thousand filled grains is 66gm.

The yield test of the Seed Certification Agency of the proposed variety in ten areas has got a 10 per cent higher production in comparison with Bari Gom33, the ACI said.

The average production per hectare of this variety is 4.19 tonnes. This production can increase up to 6.36 tonnes if it is possible to ensure proper management and an appropriate environment.

Similarly, ACI Gom2 contained all the properties of high-yielding wheat. Its panicle is taller in size. The height range of this plant is 95cm to 100 cm and the number of tillers of each plant is 6-7.

Its leaves are also wide and deep green in colour. The average height of its panicle is 13.2cm. The average count of grain per panicle is 55.

The colour of the grain of this variety is amber, glossy, and big in size. The weight per thousand filled grains is 64gm.

In the case of the yield test, the variety has also got a 10 per cent higher production in comparison with Bari Gom33.

The average production per hectare of this variety is 4.30 tonnes, while the production can increase up to 5.48 tonnes based on proper management and an appropriate environment, read the release.

Although the average production of wheat in Bangladesh is 3.09 tonnes per hectare, we need to import 6.01 million tonnes of wheat annually to fulfil the needs. And a big portion of this wheat is used at bakeries.

As ACI Gom1 and ACI Gom2 varieties are suitable for bakery food production, farmers will be benefited financially, while a foreign dependency on imports can be reduced as well.