8th INTERNATIONAL WHEAT CONFERENCE

ferent continents, Asia and Europe. At the lower difference level, each of these groups
split into smaller groups that, according to origin of genotypes, could be defined as South
Asian, East Asian, Central Asian, Caucasian, West European and East European and associated
with the ancient plant husbandry centers (Vavilov, 1987). Such genetic division
of hexaploid wheats will be discussed by means of comparison with the agroecological
classification developed by N.I. Vavilov (1957, 1964) and with known botanical classifications
(Bowden 1959, Mac Key 1966, Dorofeev et al. 1979). The study of genetic diversity
structure in the landrace subcollection is important not only for understanding evolution
of wheat but also for optimization of the wheat collection composition and subsequent
developing of conservation strategies. Along with DNA markers, prolamin (gliadin)
polymorphism and morphological and agronomical traits were successfully used in the
analysis of relationships among accessions in the spelt wheat collection (Romanova et
al. 2001) and within and among the sets of landraces originated in different countries of
Africa and Asia (Al-Yusef, 2009). Genetically closely related accessions were revealed and
authenticity of regenerated accessions with original accessions was tested. The relationship
between the place of origin and adaptive characteristics of wheat is less clear. So,
we have paid much attention to detailing the passport data for landraces and obtaining
environmental information (climate and edaphic) for collection sites. The results of this
research are represented on the website http://www.figstraitmine.com. In future, it would
be helpful to connect the sites of landrace collection and environmental diversity with
Vavilov’s agroecological classification and distribution of landrace genetic diversity.
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