Researchers are delving into the origins of bread wheat to enhance modern varieties, with a vital seed collection at K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center playing a key role.

The history of wheat traces back to the Fertile Crescent, where two wild grasses crossbred to form wild emmer wheat, which then combined with ancient goatgrass to produce the first cultivated bread wheat over 10,000 years ago. This complex hexaploid genome, containing six sets of chromosomes, makes genetic analysis challenging but also contributes to wheat’s resilience.

Bikram Gill and John Raupp discussed on the “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast how this genetic diversity reinforces current breeding programs. Gill’s vision led to the establishment of the Wheat Genetics Resource Center in 1980, now housing about 4,200 genetic lines. This collection, maintained by Raupp, supports ongoing research to improve traits like disease resistance and drought tolerance, using both traditional and modern techniques.

Today, Raupp fulfills around 100 seed requests annually from researchers both locally and globally. These researchers are exploring the ancient genetic potential of these seeds to enhance future wheat varieties, focusing on traits like sawfly resistance, higher protein content, and improved drought resistance through root morphology.