Where Common Wheats are Grown

Bread Wheat (T. aestivum) - Now the most widely cultivated wheat in the world, grown in most temperate regions. Over many years, newer varieties have been developed that have a greater yield than many of the older traditionally grown wheat species. This has led to a replacement by Bread Wheat in some parts of the world, with a subsequent loss of the older species from cultivation. This loss of species diversity may mean that some useful characteristics, such as fungal resistance or lodging resistance, could become unavailable to scientists creating new varieties. Seed banks held by the John Innes Centre at Norwich, custodian of the UK's cereal genetic resources, are therefore important for maintaining reserves of these traditional species for possible use in future wheat breeding programs.

1. Durum Wheat (T. durum) - Another tetraploid wheat, Durum Wheat (T. durum), is widely cultivated in areas with mild winters and hot summers. The ears are free-threshing with large, hard-textured grains that produce a coarse textured flour, known as semolina, when milled. After mixing with water to form a stiff dough, it can be extruded into various shapes before being dried to create a wide range of pasta products, such as macaroni, spaghetti and lasagne. When cooked, the starch absorbs water and softens but the high gluten content ensures that they retain their original shape without dissolving.

The remaining species were more commonly cultivated in the past although often restricted to limited areas, such as the Vavilovi Wheat of Armenia.

1. Polish Wheat - A tall wheat originally from the Mediterranean area and preferring a warm climate. Spikes with long papery bracts and long seeds.
2. Persian Wheat - A flexible stemmed wheat inclined to fall over. Grown in some parts of Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
3. Rivet or Cone Wheat - Mainly grown in Spain, Southern France and Italy. Similar to a poor quality Durum wheat and unsuitable for baking purposes.
4. Oriental Wheat - Grown in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. Narrow hairy leaves, often has black awns.
5. Indian Shot Wheat - A wheat with short stiff stems and small, almost round grains. Grown in Northwest India and Iran.
6. Vavilovi Wheat - A rare spelt-type wheat grown in Armenia. The spikes are unusual as they may be branched.
7. Club Wheat - A wheat with stiff stems, compact spikes and small grains. Grown in Abysinia and Turkestan and parts of Austria and Switzerland.
8. Macha Wheat - A variable spelt-type wheat discovered in 1929 growing in West Georgia and the Caucasus.
9. Spelt or Dinkel - A tall wheat with hard shelled grain, not threshing free. Small quantities are now grown for health products, especially in Germany. Shorter varieties are now grown commercially and contain reduced-height genes.