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IV. General conclusion
a) The present expedition covered the wide area from
Pakistan, through Afghanistan to Iran, and a number of
species and varieties of Aegilops and Triticum
were collected.
b) The amphidiploids obtained from hybrids between varieties
of emmer wheats and those of Ae. squarrosa could
possibly be utilized for breeding resistant varieties of
bread wheats.
c) The chromosome pairings in PMC's of synthesized
hexaploids have been observed for generations, but it has
been found that it was not yet stable after 20 years of
experimenting from the time they were first synthesized
(KIHARA 1965). For the completion of stabilization or
diploidization, it would take such a large number of
generations that have led to the establishment of the
already existing hexaploid wheats.
d) The authors are of the opinion that our bread wheat arose
under cultivation of certain species of emmer wheats, most
probably T. persicum, through amphidiploidization of
its hybrids with Ae. squarrosa, which grew as weed in
or around the fields. However, T. persicum, a Persian
wheat, was not found anywhere in Iran (or ancient Persia).
According to certain information this species probably
occurs in the north-eastern district of Asia Minor and also
in the Caucasus regions where probably the origin of most of
emmer wheat has to be sought.
In 1959, Kyoto University has organized the second
expedition of hunting for Aegilops and wheat to the
Eastern Mediterranean regions (YAMASHITA was the leader and
TANAKA was a member). Ae. mutica and species and
varieties of the Sitopsis section were collected by the
expedition. They also found T. dicoccoides, a wild
emmer, at the foot of Mount Hermon.
The authors are eager to have an opportunity of extending
the botanical exploration to the Caucasus and neighbouring
regions in not far future.
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