Genetics and linkage studies of free threshing and grain type traits in Triticum dicoccum L.

Abstract

Among different wheat species grown world wide, emmer wheat is one of the first crops domesticated in early years of civilization. In India, emmer wheat is traditionally cultivated in Northern Karnataka, Southern Maharashtra, Saurashtra region of Coastal Gujarat, parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The area of cultivation is about 1.0 hectares with total production of 2.5 lakh tonnes comprising one percent of the total area [1]. Emmer wheat is slowly gaining importance because of its high degree of thermo tolerance in comparison to other wheats. This species also possesses a very high degree of resistance to stem and leaf rust. Nutritional studies of emmer wheat reveal it’s superiority over commercially available wheat. It has high protein content (14-15%) and dietary fiber contents (1.2-1.5%). It’s low glycaemic index and having low digestibility imparts high therapeutic value in the management of diabetes. Though the yield levels of the other wheat species i.e. T. aestivum and T. durum are comparable with semi dwarf T. dicoccum, the grain recovery is low due to its fragile rachis and non-free threshability. It becomes time consuming and less cost effective. Looking to its quality traits and resistance there is a need to develop free threshing forms. Investigations are made in order to study the inheritance of threshability and linkage with grain morphology.