Origin, Genetic Diversity, and Migration Routes of Cultivated Emmer Triticum dicoccum

In a period of considerable climate and environmental changes, and constant population growth, new effective approaches to wheat breeding are required, in particular, thorough the study of genetic and genomic diversity, as well as the origin and migration routes of species genetically close to bread wheat, which could be donors of genes that control economically important traits. These species include cultivated emmer Triticum dicoccum (Schrank) Schübl. with A and B subgenomes (2n = 28), similar to the corresponding subgenomes of hexaploid bread wheat. The review examines the issues of genetic and genomic diversity of cultivated emmer, its domestication, and distribution routes. The characteristics of some T. dicoccum genes introduced into bread and durum wheat, or promising for further use in breeding programs, are discussed.