Part 11

Wheat developed from wild grasses through spontaneous crosses, unknown selection and intentional breeding. Its story begins in the area known as the Fertile Crescent during the Stone Age.

Its stages of development can be traced in this bed with about 20 wheat species and forebearers. Each block of the bed represents a species group or so-called "line". The lines are differentiated by ploidy, the number of chromosomes in a cell. Diploid wheat species with a double set of chromosomes (AA) belong to the oldest group, the einkorn-line(Triticum monococcum).

The emmer-line is a collection of wheat species with a quadruple set of chromosomes (AABB). Amongst others belonging to the tetraploid species is durum wheat(Triticum durum), commonly used for noodle production.

Finally, wheat species with a sextuple set of chromosomes (AABBDD) are encompassed in the spelt-line. A few examples from this hexaploid line are spelt(Triticum spelta) and soft wheat(Triticum aestivum).

Further information can be found on the pavilion.