The Evolution of Wheat - Introduction |
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The diagram shows the Evolution of Wheat, from the
prehistoric Stone Age grasses to modern Durum Wheat and Bread Wheat. Wild Einkorn Wheat hybridised with a Goat Grass at least 30,000 years ago (30,000 BP) to produce Wild Emmer Wheat. About 10,000 BP hunter-gatherers began to cultivate Wild Emmer. Subconscious plant selection slowly created Cultivated Emmer that hybridised with another Goat Grass around 9,000 BP to produce an early Spelt. About 8,500 BP, natural mutation changed the ears to a more easily threshed type that later evolved into the free-threshing ears of Bread Wheat. Emmer Wheat also evolved to create the Durum Wheat now used for making a wide range of pasta products such as macaroni, spaghetti and other pasta items. |
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