Growing Wheat and Triticale

Among plant breeders there is growing concern about the reduction in genetic variability a phenomenon known as genetic erosion. This limitation can be mitigated by creating and maintaining germplasm banks. Another critical aspect refers to the narrowing of the genetic base of modern cultivars of various species such as wheat due to the recurrent use of elite lines as parents in breeding programs (Goodman 1990; Reif et al. 2005).This strategy has widened the gap between activities aimed at conserving genetic resources and those associated with breeding. While researchers in the field of genetic resources dedicate themselves to collecting and preserving diversity many breeding programs have neglected the wide variability available. Data from the FAO (1996) indicate that the significant genetic diversity of wheat stored in ex situ germplasm banks remains underutilized in the development of new cultivars.