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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Improvement Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411082
Research Project: Improvement of Disease and Pest Resistance in Barley, Durum, Oat, and Wheat Using Genetics and Genomics

Location: Cereal Crops Improvement Research

Title: Future of durum wheat research and breeding: insights from early career researchers

Author
item Peters Haugrud, Amanda
item ACHILLI, ANA LAURA - University Of British Columbia
item MARTINEZ-PENA, RAQUEL - Regional Institute Of Agri-Food And Forestry Research And Development Of Castilla-la Mancha (iriaf
item KLYMIUK, VALENTYNA - University Of Saskatchewan

Submitted to: The Plant Genome
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) is globally cultivated for pasta and semolina production. With the changing climate and growing world population, the need to significantly increase durum production to meet the anticipated demand is paramount. This review summarizes recent advancements in durum research, encompassing the exploitation of existing genetic diversity, exploration of potential new diversity sources, breeding for climate-resilient varieties, enhancements in production and management practices, and the utilization of modern technologies in breeding and cultivar development. In comparison to bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the durum wheat community and production area are considerably smaller, often comprising many small family farmers, notably in African and Middle Eastern countries. Public breeding programs like the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) play a pivotal role in providing new and adapted cultivars for these small-scale growers. We spotlight the contributions of these and others in this review. Additionally, we offer our recommendations on key areas for the durum research community to explore in addressing the challenges posed by climate change while striving to enhance durum production and sustainability. As part of the Wheat Initiative, our durum expert working group recognizes the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing toward a shared objective. We hope the insights presented in this review stimulate future research and deliberations on the trajectory for durum wheat.