Wheat Genetic Resources

In order to continue humanity, we need to feed the growing population and practice agriculture in harmony with the changing environmental conditions. For this reason, we require high-yielding cultivars capable of withstanding environmental stress factors. The only solution to developing these varieties is the utilization of genetic resources. Among all plants, wheat stands out as the most important plant genetic resource. Being the first plant cultivated by humans, wheat owes its status to its high adaptability in diverse environmental conditions. Hence, it has been grown for thousands of years in almost any climate and region, becoming the primary food source for humans due to its ease of cultivation and rich nutrient content. Local wheat varieties and their wild relatives possess gene resistant to both biotic and abiotic factors. Plants face various stresses such as drought, cold, heat, diseases, pests, and global warming. Wild wheat relatives and local populations cultivated by farmers in stressed regions for extended periods have acquired the ability to cope with these stress factors. Local varieties have gained significance not only for their resistance/tolerance to stress factors but also for their suitability to meet the changing nutritional habits and needs of today. Despite their lower yields, enthusiasts and some farmers grow these wheat varieties. Scientific studies on wheat genetic resources have been carried out for many years. Although collections of these genetic resources have been amassed worldwide, the conservation efforts for local varieties, especially in the hands of farmers, have recently started to gain importance. Just as in the past, the value of wheat genetic resources will increase in the future.