Genetic diversity is worthwhile for durum wheat breeding and consequently results in production of more efficient varieties under different conditions. Cluster analysis based on Euclidean distances was carried out with 21 durum wheat genotypes to assess the genetic diversity for agronomic and quality traits. The Unweighted Pair Group Average using Arithmetic Mean as linkage rule was used for the analysis of the distances between clusters. The genotypes were evaluated for 23 agronomic and quality traits and expressed ample genetic variability. The cluster analysis clutches 21 durum wheat genotypes into 3 main distinct clusters which imply the presence of substantial genetic diversity among the tested genotypes. The highest and lowest genetic distance was observed between local cultivar Var21 and advanced breeding line Var8 (12.5) and advanced breeding lines Var14 and Var15 (0.33) genotypes, respectively. From cluster mean values, genotypes in cluster 3 revealed wider genetic variations for both intra and inter cluster genetic dissimilarities and can be utilized for direct use as parents in hybridization programs to develop high yielding durum wheat varieties. Genotypes in cluster 3 have also showed genetic variation for quality traits and may be used for enhancement of protein and gluten contents and other desirable traits other than grain yield. It was also renowned that disparity of genotypes into different clusters was because of the small contribution and cumulative effect of a number of traits. The facts obtained from this finding can be exhaustively used to design crosses and boost the use of genetic diversity and manifestation of heterosis.

Wheat has been almost the first crop domesticated through evolution, natural selection, hybridization, and artificial selection; directly contributed to the adaptation and development of modern varieties. The role of participatory and evolutionary plant breeding in combination can be utilized as a new approach to cope with the complexity of wheat variety adoption and climate change. This method can be also curiously used to improve food security and nutritional value for the rapidly growing human population to reduce the dependence on inorganic agricultural inputs. The experiment was conducted with the objective; to evaluate different mixtures of durum wheat under local climate to improve the variety adoption process and enhance resilience to climate change. Field trials were conducted on 27 heterogeneous durum wheat populations (mixtures) over two locations for one year to test the use of evolutionary plant breeding combined with participatory farmers' selection for local climate adaptation, nutritional value, and grain yield. The result showed that gender preferences associated with important adaptation traits like spike color, head compactness, and plant height are effective for determining high-yielding wheat variety and founded with better adaptation to changing climate. During an evaluation by farmers; mixtures exhibited compact head (MTOPTI_UNS (25), M10_UNS (27), M10_MS (9), and MTIG_FS (12), white-colored head (M10_UNS (27), M10_MS (9), MTOPTI_UNS (9), MTIG_FS (12), M217_UNS (19), and mixtures with tall plants resistant to lodging (MTOPTI-UNS (25), were more preferred and selected by farmers. Broadly, according to the experiment, mixtures (evolutionary populations) have comparative advantages over modern varieties for enhancing resilience to climate change, nutrition, and better adaptation.