Triticum dicoccon

Triticum dicoccon, also known as Emmer, is a type of wheat that was one of the first crops domesticated in the Fertile Crescent. It is a tetraploid wheat, having two sets of chromosomes from two different species.

History

Triticum dicoccon was domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, an area that includes modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and parts of Turkey and Iran. It was one of the first crops to be domesticated, along with einkorn wheat and barley.

Characteristics

Triticum dicoccon is a tetraploid wheat, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes. This is twice as many as diploid wheats like einkorn wheat, but half as many as hexaploid wheats like bread wheat. The extra sets of chromosomes give Triticum dicoccon a higher protein content than other wheats, but also make it harder to mill and bake with.

Cultivation

Triticum dicoccon is a hardy wheat that can grow in poor soils and harsh climates where other wheats cannot. It is primarily grown in Ethiopia, India, and some parts of Europe. Despite its advantages, Triticum dicoccon is not widely grown due to its low yield and difficulty to process.

Uses

Triticum dicoccon is used to make a variety of foods, including bread, pasta, and beer. It is also used as animal feed. In recent years, it has gained popularity as a health food due to its high protein content and low gluten levels.

See also

• Wheat
• Einkorn wheat
• Bread wheat
• Fertile Crescent