A consolidated list of Triticum species and varieties of Georgia to promote repatriation of local diversity from foreign genebanks

Georgia is one of the most important centers of diversity of the domesticated wheat. Five out of the fourteen wheat species found in Georgia, originate from Georgia and are local endems. They represent transitional forms from wild to domesticated wheat. Their examination could contribute in evalutionary studies of wheat. Unfortunately, the Georgia wheats are often overlooked as are not accessible for researchers. To promote better understanding of the wheat diversity in Georgia and facilitate its acquisition and identification, the authors of the present paper developed a comprehensive list of the wheat taxa, which can be used as reference for search of wheat samples missing in the local collections. As many as 184 variations of wheat are present in the consolidated list.