New insights into the diversity of Apulian wheat landraces known as Saragolla

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) has been cultivated in Southern Italy since ancient times. Historically, farmers cultivated landraces that evolved in response to environmental conditions in which they were traditionally grown. Among the Italian durum landraces, the "Saragolla group" played a significant role in Southern Italy until the mid-20th century. This group included landraces such as "Saragolla o duro di Puglia" "Saragolla Lucanica," and "Saragolla Siciliana," all characterized by long grains and semolina used for pasta production. The release of improved durum cultivars led to the progressive decline of the landraces, including the "Saragolla group" which now survives in small marginal areas of Southern Italy. Recently, through the Rural Development Program, seven durum landraces were recovered in Apulia region, one of which named "Saragolletta" while the others were collectively referred to as "Saragolla". In this study, the genetic variation within and among these landraces was assessed using biochemical markers.