ABSTRACT
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) is an allotetraploid species with seven homeologous groups of chromosomes (2n = 4x = 28). About 10 percent of the world’s wheat production includes durum wheat. In the United States, this market class ranks fifth after hexaploid wheat market classes. Adapted semidwarf durum varieties are available in different parts of the world and active research programs are investigating traits such as high yield, heat and drought tolerance, disease and pest resistance, and grain-quality characters. International centers such as CIMMYT and ICARDA and several national research programs in different countries have played a major role in the genetic improvement and breeding of durum wheat cultivars.
