Gel-electrophoretic characterization of emmer (Triticum dicoccum Schübler) selected from a local population grown in the Apulia region (Italy)

Emmer wheat cultivation has been drastically reduced in the last century. Nevertheless, recently, consumer demand has been renewed with the use of emmer in health food products. Various studies have investigated agronomical or quality traits in accessions of Italian emmer. In Italy emmer is cultivated in the marginal lands of central and southern Italy. Local native emmer populations are cultivated, but the recent expansion of hulled wheat cultivation has generated an intense exchange of seeds. Consequently, current research is focused on the characterization of genotypes suitable for potential sources and for germplasm conservation. This paper reports the essential agronomical and rainfall conditions, yields, and electrophoretic characterization of an emmer selection produced in 2007 in southern Italy.