Endemic species, varieties of the Georgian wheat and their value.
Since the most ancient times wheat has been the major agricultural crop. Its domestication took place about 10 000 years ago and after that it began to extend worldwide. Archeological excavations in Georgia confirm that the Georgians began cultivation of wheat 5,000 years ago. The first traces of farming in Georgia date back to the Mesolith period. Scientific data confirm that Georgia is one of the primary centers of origin of cultural wheat and that 14 out of the cultural wheat varieties (70%). have been found on the territory of Georgia, 5 of them being endemic (autochthonic) for Georgia. These incude- Tr. timopheevii Zhuk, Tr. karamyschevii Nevski, Tr. persicum Vav., Tr. zhukovskyi Men.&Eriz, and Tr. macha Dekapr.& Men. The fact that more than 154 species and over 150 varieties have been found and described in Georgia is also noteworthy. Georgia is known in the world as the homeland of immune wheat, such as Tr. Timopheevii and Tr. Zhukovckyi. Tr. Timopheevii, Tr. Zhukovckyii, and Tr. carthlicum are the carriers of genes known for high content of protein and irreplaceable amino acids. Tr. Carthlicumi is the carrier of a gene Q, which determines an easy threshing ability and steady stem of the ear. A special place in the origin of soft wheat occupies Tr. macha Dekapr. & Men. - a prototype and living ancestor of cultural varieties. It is the carrier of traits of wild and cultural wheat. Tr. macha is the initial specie that gave rise to all cultural hexaploid wheats. It is also noteworthy that eight new wheat varieties have originated based on t the Georgian endemic species.
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