InSitu97: "Problems of "on farm" prebreeding and "in situ" conservation of Triticum monococcum s.l. in the ABCD-Area in Europe"

Author: A. T. Szabó, Univ.Prof, DSc, FLS

Lab. Ecol. Genet. Evol. Crop.,
UWH, BDTF (Berzsényi College), Dept.Genet.Env.Sci.
and Bio Tár Electronic (W: genetics.bdtf.hu)
P: 9701 Szombathely, POB 170, Hungary
E: szta@rik.bdtf.hu, T: 36.94-324313, F: 36.94.312248

Abstract:

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum s.l.) is an ancient diploid hulled wheat, a relic of the Neolithic period in the Alp - Balcan - Carpath - Danube (ABCD) area. Species belonging to this group have a quite complicated taxonomy (Szabó et Hammer 1996) and ecogeographical distribution (Perrino et al. 1997)

T. monococcum has been adapted in the ABCD mountain area to marginal land cultivation. Marginal land represents here agroecological niches in which the cultivation of the species is still possible in a low input - low output agriculture.

This adaptation is highly polygenic, including genes involved in nutrition, interspecific competition, drought
and frost tolerance, resistance to pests and diseases, as well as genes making the crop suitable for multipurpose utilisation (Szabó and Palfalvi 1995). This are the main reasons of the (quite sparse) on farm preservation of the species in the Carpathians (Transylvania, Romania). Recent records of preserved traditional Einkorn cultivation in Alps are uncertain, but newly introduced (revitalized) Einkorn cultivation emerged recently in Alpes Maritimes (France).

In Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia traditional Einkorn cultivation seems obsolate and genetic erosion finished. Even from a largely cited Einkorn cultivation area (the Krainas, now in Croatia) we have no cultivation records confirmed recently.

In the Eastern range of the Carpathian mountains (including the Depression of Transylvania) genetic erosion
advanced heavily in the priod of the illfamous "socialist agriculture". We could still localize three different active and one eclipsed relic cultivation area where in situ preservation of Einkorn is still possible. This preservation is based on the economic value of a wide range of Triticum monococcum genes expressed on the level of roots (alleolpathic substances, climatic and edaphic tolerance etc.), in the stem and leaves (higher elasticity and sclerechyma content, a relatively lower sensitivity to wild animals etc.).

Chrological and paleoethnobotanical data seem to support the continuity of the Einkorn germplasm in Transylvania for millenia. This germplasm is of high theoretical and spiritual value, as one of the last "living fossils" of the Neolithic Revolution. In order to promote in situ conservation of Einkorn the special value of this crop has been publicized.

A large variety of methods have been applied during the work, beginning with personal dicussion with the farmer, periodical sampling of the crop, publication of papers (in newspapers, in books etc. etc.)

The genetic erosion seems to beslowed accordinglyly and new interrest emerged for Einkorn cultivation.

A prebreeding programme has been initiated in "on farm" conditions,using the facilities of the Open Air Village Museum Szombathely. During this programme Einkorn is under evaluation as a crop for special purposes: food and feed, a species suited for biological gardening, for scientific tourism, straw for handcrafts etc.

Einkorn is also used as a model plant for teaching Genetics for students (poliploid series etc.) We hope that this scientific propaganda will also contribute to an effective on farm conservation in the future.