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.
