Chances for the conservation and re-cultivation of central european club wheat (Binkel) through a nutritional and genetic differentiation towards other wheat species

Activity Coordinator: Rudolf Vögel  Email

The project "Chances for the conservation and re-cultivation of central european club wheat (Binkel) through a nutritional and genetic differentiation towards other wheat species  (BiDifferent)", submitted by the Wheat Working Group for funding under the FifthCall of the Activity Grant Scheme for Phase X, was approved by the Executive Committee in November 2021.

Implementation

March 2024
The final Activity workshop was held in Ora, Italy, from 14-15 March 2024. Local farmers and stakeholders including the regional SLOW FOOD president joined part of the meeting, which was reported by the Austrian Radio (ORF). Bakery tests of club wheat based on homestead processes were presented, accompanying the field evaluation trials of 2022 and 2023 in four locations. Owing to the differing harvest qualities, it was suggested to organize additional laboratory tests for the selected good varieties. These will be carried out with leftover funds. The final report of the Activity is expected shortly. 

November 2023
Results of the project were disseminated to farmers in South Tyrol, Italy, during a meeting that took place on 24 November 2023 in Meran. The meeting, which was attended by a group of 20 farmers and producers of North and South Tyrol, allowed them to observe field trials of the BiDifferent project. If interested, they can also receive initial replication samples for on-farm experimentation and use.

The final BiDifferent meeting is planned for 15-16 March 2024 at the Laimburg Research Centre in Italy.

Photos of the BiDifferent mid-term meeting, held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and the field trial visit to the experimental farm of INRAE, Theix.

June 2023
The BiDifferent mid-term meeting was held from 29-30 June 2023 in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Minutes are available [here (245,0 KB)]. The final workshop will be held in Laimburg (Italy), in February 2024 (dates TBC), when all the results will be available and evaluated. 
Partners reported that field tests of club wheat varieties (spring type) were carried out at four locations (South Tyrol/Italy, North Tyrol/Austria, south-east Bavaria/Germany and Brandenburg/north-east Germany) in the first year of investigation (2022). About ten cultivars were tested and grain quality data analysis was taking place. Field tests of about ten winter accessions were prepared for the same locations plus an additional field site at INRA, France.
Fingerprinting tests are being carried out at JKI using the 25k Wheat XT array (SGS Traitgenetics, Seeland, Germany). Resistance/tolerance analysis under greenhouse conditions against fungal pathogens like leaf rust, stripe rust, powdery mildew and Fusarium are also ongoing. 

April 2023
Club wheat field trial in a mid-mountain location in France, 7 April 2023

 

March 2023
The Association for the Conservation and Recultivation of Crops VERN e. V., published a web page on the BiDifferent project available at https://landsorten.de/bidifferent/ 

July 2022
The kick-off meeting took place in Innsbruck from 14-15 July 2022. The meeting minutes are available [here (289,4 KB)] and the presentation [here (1,7 MB)]

 

ECPGR Wheat Working Group