Abstract:
Emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccum SCHUEBL, is an old variety of
cereals which has been traditionally grown in aride areas. Nowdays, it is
mainly grown in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria and in the Czech republic. The
surface of the growing areas is usually several tens of ha. The renewed
interest in this variety has its origin in favourable quality parametres of
emmer wheat grain and a beneficial effect on human organism. This article
deals with a study of 10 varieties of emmer wheat (which have been chosen
from the collection of gene bank at the Research institute of Crop Production
in Prague-Ruzyně and in České Budějovice). The particular morphological
and biological features were screened during all the vegetation period.
Postharvest analysis was carried out after that and the economic characters
were set up. Respect of the variety ideotype for organic farming was
evaluated too. Concerning the morphological characters, emmer wheat is a
suitable genus for condition of low-input farming systems. Plants of emmer
wheat are middle tall or tall and they have suitable flag leaves. Spike is
supposed to be dense. The biological characters are represented by the
resistance to diseases and they are supposed to be very good. Varieties are
usually not affected by funga diseases. Emmer wheat is very resistant to
drought. When the economic characters evaluated, high degree of diversity of
the varieties was found out. Spike is usually dense, it has high TGW and
grain weight per spike is 1 g. Harvest index is lower than usual, because
emmer wheat is not breeded variety. Some materials which achieve sufficient
spike productivity and may provide a relevant yield may be found among the
varieties. Some of the chosen varieties reached a sufficient evaluation,
therefore, they are suitable for low-input farming systems in less favoured
areas.
