Comparison of durum with ancient tetraploid wheats from an agronomical, chemical, nutritional, and genetic standpoints: a review

Abstract

Under intense breeding, modern wheats, such as durum (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum), are believed to have lost nutritional quality and protein content while increasing productivity. Emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum Thell) and wild emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) are alternative resources for breeding programs by offering favorable alleles to be introgressed into modern materials and thus broadening their genetic diversity. Studies conducted so far have shown that durum wheat has better performance in agronomical qualities and protein quality than T. dicoccum and T. dicoccoides. However, its grain protein content (GPC) and Fe/Zn concentrations are lower. Several QTL for yield, GPC, and nutrient content in T. dicoccoides have been described, demonstrating its potential for transfer of important genes such as Gpc-B1 into modern cultivars. The Gpc-B1 gene increased the grain protein and Fe and Zn contents, but the agronomic performance of some of the modern recipients was reduced. Understanding the correlations and relationships between agronomic, chemical, and nutritional qualities would simplify selection through breeding for a single trait. Combining this knowledge with conventional breeding, MAS, and new breeding techniques would facilitate the QTL studies in these ancestral wheats and the development of new durum cultivars while retaining the agronomic qualities. In this review, we compare some grain parameters of T. durum, T. dicoccum, and T. dicoccoides wheats, including Fe and Zn content and their genetic aspects, and the existing information is analyzed and integrated for the future prospects of durum wheat improvement.

Characterization of Triticum turgidum sspp. durum, turanicum, and polonicum grown in Central Italy in relation to technological and nutritional aspects

“…On the basis of the growing interest of consumers in wheats present before the Green Revolution, collectively named “ancient wheats,” parallel research is increasing to analyze them more in detail both from the nutritional and technological points of view ( Cabas-Lühmann et al., 2023 ; Roumia et al., 2023 ).…”

Grain quality traits within the wheat (Triticum spp.) genepool: prospects for improved nutrition through de novo domestication

“…17,19 Triticum monococcum had an elevated GPC, 48,49 but, for T. durum, T. dicoccon and T. dicoccoides, the measured GPC was in the range of values reported in the literature. [49][50][51] In general, wild wheats and landraces are known to have higher GPC. 15,[50][51] One T. urartu genotype showed 28% protein content.…”

“…[49][50][51] In general, wild wheats and landraces are known to have higher GPC. 15,[50][51] One T. urartu genotype showed 28% protein content. 52 The five T. urartu genotypes analyzed in the present study showed lower GPC (192-229 g kg −1 ).…”

Meta-QTL analysis and candidate genes for quality traits, mineral content, and abiotic-related traits in wild emmer

“…These parameters include yield and related traits ( Maccaferri et al., 2019 ; Arriagada et al., 2020 ; Gupta et al., 2020 ), protein content ( Saini et al., 2022c ), mineral content ( Fatiukha et al., 2020 ), abiotic-related traits ( Bhusal et al., 2018 ), and biotic-related traits such as FHB ( Zhang et al., 2022 ). Nevertheless, research indicates that intensive breeding practices in modern wheats have led to increased productivity at the expense of diminished nutritional value, protein content, and resistance or tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors ( Cakmak et al., 2010 ; Peng et al., 2011 ; Cabas-Lühmann et al., 2023 ). Various QTL studies were conducted, showing the substantial nutritive value and stress tolerance conferred by wild emmer.…”

“…These studies primarily aimed to identify alleles or markers associated with nutritional value, particularly concerning iron and zinc content ( Peleg et al., 2009a ; Liu et al., 2021 ), protein content ( Fatiukha et al., 2019 ), and tolerance or resistance to abiotic ( Peleg et al., 2005 ) and biotic stressors ( Huang et al., 2016 ). Some of these QTLs have been used in wheat breeding programs to enhance the genotypes by introducing alleles that broaden their genetic diversity, thereby improving nutritional content, protein content, and resistance or tolerance to stressors ( Kumar et al., 2018 ; Fatiukha et al., 2019 ; Kuznetsova et al., 2019 ; Cabas-Lühmann et al., 2023 ). However, despite all these studies on QTLs, wheat breeding programs have used only a limited subset of those genetic resources ( Cobb et al., 2019 ).…”