Since its release in Brazil, wheat is being grown predominantly in the temperate climate zone, extending from Rio Grande do Sul to Parana. Many researchers considered this region the most adequate for commercial production of the cereal. Moreover, since the 1970s, wheat cultivation has expanded into central West Brazil, where cultivation in the Cerrado (open Brazilian savannah) region appears to be promising (Souza and Ramalho 2001, Cargnin et al. 2006). Irrigated wheat can be cultivated across almost the entire state of Minas Gerais, comprising all areas at over 400 m asl. Since the cereal is not a host for diseases such as sclerotinia, rhizoctonia or fusariosis, it has become the main option for crop rotation, as for example with bean in autumn/winter. In the state of Minas Gerais irrigated wheat is sown from April 10 through May 31. In the late 1970s, breeding programs in Minas Gerais focused on the release and experimental testing of cultivars of several national and international institutions. Germplasm for irrigated cultivation was introduced from the International Corn and Wheat Breeding Center (CIMMYT), Mexico. From 1980 to 1993, a selection program was developed with segregating populations, initially together with the Cerrado Research Center (CPAC) and later the National Wheat Research Center (CNPT), of the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA). After 1993, the Universidade Federal de Vicosa (UFV) took part in the state wheat breeding programs, contributing with hybridizations and releases of the CIMMYT line. ABSTRACT This study aimed to quantify the progress obtained by breeding programs of irrigated wheat in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 1976 to 2005. The efficiency of the programs was evaluated based on yield data obtained in Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials. The genetic and environmental progress was estimated by the methodology of Vencovsky et al. The mean annual progress rate from 1976 to 2005 in mean yield was estimated to be 48 kg ha-1 yr-1 (1.84% per year). Environmental and technological improvements were important for the increased yield during the study period, accounting for 32.8% of the total gain. Over the years, 33% of the genotypes used in the improvement programs of irrigated wheat were replaced.