Indicators of wheat genetic diversity and germplasm use in the people's republic of China

Abstract

A preliminary study of wheat genetic diversity in the People's Republic of China is presented. Available evidence and basic data related to the ancestry of leading wheat cultivars and the area distribution of dominant cultivars in farmers' fields are summarized. These data are used to generate some preliminary hypotheses regarding wheat genetic diversity and post-reform patterns of varietal distribution. Evidence from secondary sources and the visual inspection of pedigrees from key lines suggests that the influence of domestic landraces in the gene pool of modern Chinese wheat cultivars may be less important than expected and that the influence of foreign germplasm may be correspondingly more important. Linkages between China's modern wheats and the ancestors of major lines grown in other parts of the world are explored, as are changes in spatial and temporal diversity. Unique Chinese wheat forms that may be important to national and global genetic diversity are discussed.