Cereals and aegilops genus biodiversity survey in the west balkans: Erosion and preservation

Abstract

The utilization of genetic diversity is very important, not only in breeding programs, but also in preservation of natural surroundings, heritage and high value food production. The useful part of total gene pool for some traits could be found in ancestors or wild relatives of wheat. Tetraploid and hexaploid wheat species of today, including cultivated forms, are the offspring of spontaneous interspecies crosses of Triticum sp. and Aegilops sp. Consequently, Aegilops genus has been considered as an important wheat relative and useful broadening genetic variability gene source. However, biodiversity erosion appears to be an existing problem in breeding programs of main agricultural plants, as well as, in preservation of our ecological surrounding. Preservation of that valuable genetic material, as well as, in situ and ex situ conservation is required. Summary results of six years expeditions conducted in order to collect samples and data of Aegilops sp. genetic variability, as well as landraces and local populations of cereals in Montenegro, are presented in this article. Significant genetic variability has been denoted and collected, but serious loss of genetic variability in cultivated cereals and spontaneous relatives has been in progress in last 15-20 years.