This book is about the contribution to evolutionary theory and agricultural technology of one of humankind's most dramatic imitations of the evolu tionary process, namely crop domestication, as exemplified by the progenitor of wheat, Triticum dicoccoides. This species is a major model organism and it has been studied at the Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, since 1979. The domestication by humans of wild plants to cultivated ones during the last ten millennia is one of the best demonstrations of evolution. It is a process that has been condensed in time and advanced by artificial rather than natural selection. Plant and animal domestication revolutionized human cultural evolution and is the major factor underlying human civilization. A post-Pleistocene global rise in temperature following the ice age, i.e., climatic-environmental factors, may have induced the expansion of econom ically important thermophilous plants and in turn promoted complex forag ing and plant cultivation. The shift from foraging to steady production led to an incipient agriculture varying in time in various part of the world. In the Levant, agriculture developed out of an intensive specialized exploitation of plants and animals. Natufian sedentism, followed by rapid population growth and resource stress, induced by the expanding desert, coupled with available grinding technology, may have triggered plant domestication.

Wild emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) is the progenitor of all domesticated wheat grown today, both tetraploid and hexaploid. The understanding of wild emmer's origin, the evolution of its genome, the structure and evolution of its genetic diversity, and the ways it contributed to the evolution of domesticated wheat is essential for advancing the basic and applied biology of wheat. It has been hypothesized that emmer was domesticated in the Karaca Dağ region in southeastern Turkey, yet, no analysis of domestication genes has been reported in this population. To fill this knowledge gap, accession PI 428082 from the Karaca Dağ region was crossed to durum 'Langdon' (LDN) to construct a genetic mapping population and genetic linkage maps, and map loci controlling domestication traits. First, using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, the relationship of this accession to other accessions of wild emmer in the Karaca Dağ region and domesticated wheat was determined. PI 428082 was embedded in the Karaca Dağ wild emmer branch in the phylogenetic tree, indicating that it is representative of the Karaca Dağ wild emmer population. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross LDN x PI 428082 were developed, a genetic map comprising 2,650 unique SNP markers and spanning 1727.93 cM was constructed and compared to the genome sequence of Aegilops tauschii, a wild relative of the wheat D genome, to investigate chromosomal rearrangements and evolution of wild emmer genome. A major structural change observed in the PI 428082 genome was a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3B and 6B, in addition to the already known 4A-5A-7B translocations and 4A pericentric and paracentric inversions. In addition to these rearrangements, the most common type of chromosome rearrangement was an intrachromosomal translocation. The genetic map was inconsistent with the current model of the evolution of chromosome 4A. The origin of 4A rearrangements was shown to be contemporary with the speciation of wild emmer. The study of diversity in chromosome 4A in the Karaca Dağ wild emmer uncovered a selective sweep in this chromosome that was absent from hexaploid wheat. The absence of diversity from a large portion of chromosome 4A of wild emmer population that is proposed to be the ancestor of all domesticated wheat calls into question the ancestral nature of this wild emmer population. To further characterize the relationship of PI 428082 to domesticated wheat, the LDN x PI 428082 RIL population was grown in the field for three years and measured a suite of domestication-related traits. Domestication-related QTLs were discovered and mapped. To compare them with domestication QTLs on homoeologous chromosomes and QTLs published by others, the 64 QTLs discovered here and 60 domestication QTLs discovered by others were aligned on the Ae. tauschii genome sequence. This allowed for the more precise determination of the locations of some of the QTLs and the identification of candidate genes among genes isolated in other grass genomes. Virtually all QTLs described by others in wild emmer QTL studies segregated in the LDN x PI 428082 RIL population, suggesting the presence of wild alleles at most of the domestication loci in PI 428082. This is consistent with PI 428082 and other wild emmer in the Karaca Dağ region being a wild population, and argues against the possibility that the population was derived from hybridization with domesticated wheat. Segregation for wild traits, such as brittle rachis and glume tenacity, in the RIL population made it unsuitable for the analysis of agronomic traits. Therefore, reciprocal inbred backcross lines (IBLs) from the cross LDN x PI 428082 were developed. By merging two IBL populations derived from backcrosses to the wild and domesticated parents, the creation of a genotyping matrix suitable for genetic mapping was possible. The LDN x PI 428082 map consisted of 1,830 unique markers and spanned 2,057 cM of the tetraploid genome. It was consistent with the map made using the RIL population, as 98% of markers that could be compared were in the same order. QTL analysis was also performed with this map and QTLs were aligned on the Aegilops tauschii genome sequence for comparison. The locations of QTL shared by the IBL and RIL maps were consistent. Hence, both marker order and QTL locations validated the approach to the IBL map construction and QTL mapping.

This open access book covers a century of research on wheat genetics and evolution, starting with the discovery in 1918 of the accurate number of chromosomes in wheat. We re-evaluate classical studies that are pillars of the current knowledge considering recent genomic data in the wheat group comprising 31 species from the genera Amblyopyrum, Aegilops, Triticum, and other more distant relatives. For these species, we describe morphology, ecogeographical distribution, phylogeny as well as cytogenetic and genomic features. For crops, we also address evolution under human selection, namely pre-domestication cultivation and domestication. We re-examine the genetic and archeological evidence of where, when, and how domestication occurred. We discuss unique aspects of genome evolution and maintenance under polyploidization, in natural and synthetic allopolyploids of the wheat group. Finally, we propose some thoughts on the future prospects of wheat improvement. As such, it can be of great interest to wheat researchers and breeders as well as to plant scientists and students interested in plant genetics, evolution, domestication, and polyploidy.

New Horizons in Evolution is a compendium of the latest research, analyses, and theories of evolutionary biology. Chapters are collected from the international symposium held by the Board of Governors of the University of Haifa to honor Dr. Eviatar Nevo, founder and director of the Institute of Evolution. This book includes material written by top global scientists. Such detailed summaries and recent advances include topics like genomics, epigenetics, evolutionary theory, and the evolution of cancer. This book analyzes evolutionary biology of animals, such as lizards and subterranean mammals. It also discusses agricultural evolution, specifically the vital wheat crop in various climates and locations. Each chapter contributes the most up-to-date knowledge of evolution's role in speciation, adaptation, and regulation. New Horizons in Evolution is a valuable resource for researchers involved in evolution, evolutionary biology, and evolutionary theory. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in evolutionary biology courses will also find this useful due to the high expertise level and latest knowledge available through this resource. Examines the evolution of species in extreme conditions Discusses the role of evolution in medicine and cancer research Features the latest data and advances in evolution theory

Wheat: Science and Trade is an up-to-date, comprehensive reference work designed to expand the current body of knowledge on this staple crop, incorporating new information made available by genetic advances, improvements in the understanding of wheat's biology, and changes in the wheat trade industry. Covering phylogeny and ontogeny, manipulation of the environment and optimal management, genetic improvement, and utilization and commercialization, the book focuses on the most economically significant diseases and impacts

Wild Germplasm for Genetic Improvement in Crop Plants addresses the need for an integrated reference on a wide variety of crop plants, facilitating comparison and contrast, as well as providing relevant relationships for future research and development. The book presents the genetic and natural history value of wild relatives, covers what wild relatives exist, explores the existing knowledge regarding specific relatives and the research surrounding them and identifies knowledge gaps. As understanding the role of crop wild relatives in plant breeding expands the genetic pool for abiotic and biotic stress resistance, this is an ideal reference on this important topic. Provides a single-volume resource to important crops for accessible comparison and research Explores both conventional and molecular approaches to breeding for targeted traits and allows for expanded genetic variability Guides the development of hybrids for germplasm with increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses

Wild crop plants play a significant part in the elucidation and improvement of the genomes of their cultivated counterparts. The 10-volume Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources offers a comprehensive examination of wild crops as a gold mine for breeding. It details the status, origin, distribution, morphology, cytology, genetic diversity and available genetic and genomic resources of numerous wild crop relatives, as well as of their evolution and phylogenetic relationship. Further topics include their role as model plants, genetic erosion and conservation efforts, and their domestication for the purposes of bioenergy, phytomedicines, nutraceuticals and phytoremediation. Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources comprises 10 volumes on cereals, millets and grasses, oilseeds, legume crops and forages, vegetables, temperate fruits, tropical and subtropical fruits, industrial crops, plantation and ornamental crops, and forest trees. It contains 126 chapters contributed by 380 authors from 39 countries.