Abstract: Zhongmai No.9 was bred by multiple cross and 16-year pedigree selection. It has a good light interception ability, high filling rate, low canopy temperature depression in later growth stage, durably moderate resistance to stripe rust, leaf rust and powdery mildew, and insusceptible to Sitodiplossis mosellana (Gehin), lodging and preharvest sprouting. It presents outstanding yield with an yield record of 9 603 kg·ha-1. Its average yield was 6.7% higher than that of the control variety in the National Wheat Variety Regional Tests. An effective seed-production and cultivation technique system was built for Zhongmai No.9 by reducing row spacing and deferring watering in spring. By planting Zhongmai No.9, farmers could save one-time waterirrigation in the North China. Its sown area was kept around 150 000 ha per year in the past 10 years. The development and extension of Zhongmai No.9, a new breeding strategy paying more attention to large grains and spikes was developed, which broke the yield structural model based on multi-spikes in northern winter wheat region and improved wheat yield potential.

Key words: Wheat , Variety , Breeding , Cultivation , High-yield