Gene Flow as a Source of Adaptation of Durum Wheat to Changing Climate Conditions

Fluctuating environments are recurring scenarios in dryland agriculture with detrimental effects to crop production such as durum wheat crop that could lead to losses in yield. The dryland Mediterranean type of environment in particular vis-à-vis climate is characterized by low and highly erratic annual rainfall varying from 200 to 800 mm, with usually a poor rainfall distribution coupled with intermittent periods of drought and temperature extremes (cold and heat) that can occur at any stage of durum wheat plant development (Nachit et al. 1992a, 1992b).