Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) experts in plant genetics and breeding have made another breakthrough in cultivation of a wheat strain noted for its high yields and good quality.

A new elite line "Xiaoyan 81," screened from the cross between wheat varieties "Xiaoyan 54" and "8602" by a research team head by Prof. Li Zhensheng from the CAS Institute of Genetics and Development Biology (IGDB), has a yield of 8.48 tons per hectare with the highest yield reaching 9.26 tons per hectare.

The strain's yeld also has a good quality. Its protein content can reach 17 percent, sometimes as high as 18.8 percent, the test weight is 800g/L, and wet gluten content is 40 percent with the highest at 46 percent. In addition, "Xiaoyan 81" is high in nutrients efficiency, and strong in disease-, lodging- and drought-assistance.

For the moment the "Xiaoyan 81" is being regionally tested for wheat strain comparison in three provinces, namely, Hebei, Shandong and Shaanxi and is under observation test in Henan for strain introduction. In the growing season of 2004 - 2005, the "Xiaoyan 81" stood out in the mid-south Hebei regional test for wheat strain comparison. It topped all the ten participating strains.