| (78) |
Synthesized hexaploid on the left side
and bread wheat. |
| (79) |
From this last result, it is highly probable
that the tetraploid ancestor of bread wheat has been not a wild type,
but a cultivated one. |
| (80) |
Now, where did the bread wheat originate?
This question is still a matter in dispute. |
| (81) |
Aegilops squarrosa is distributed
from Transcaucasia to Afghanistan and the wild Emmer, Triticum
dicoccoides, from Armenia to Palestine. |
| (82) |
The hybridization could have taken place
there where the areas of both overlap. But in those parts no wild
growing hexaploid wheat was ever found. Since the hexaploid wheat
is vigorous, it is hard to assume that the wild type died out. It
appears more probable that the bread wheat is not derived from a wild
growing hexaploid. |
| (83) |
How far back do we have to place the origin
of the bread wheat? |
| (84) |
The area of cultivated Emmer wheats extends
eastwards to Tibet but does not reach China. Dinkel wheats are supposed
to spread fast and widely owing to the vital powers of their hexaploid
constitution. We may assume that our bread wheat is at least 4,000
years old. |
| (85) |
In the light of all the discoveries made
in the laboratories, exploration of the natural habitats of the whole
group related to wheat has become a task of utmost importance. Botanical
expeditions to Palestine, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Iran, Iraq and
Afghanistan should be organized. Let us stress with Vavilov, the great
explorer of the origin of cultivated plants, the importance of international
cooperation. Only with joined efforts will such undertakings bring
good results. |
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TECHNICAL STAFF
NICHI-EI SCIENTIFIC FILMS
Produced by T. ISHIMOTO
Directed by N. OTA
Photographed by K. SUZUKI
Animation by Y. KATAOKA
Narrated by T. SHIMANOUCHI
Sound Recording by K. TANKA
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