The CerealMed research project (Enhancing diversity in Mediterranean cereal farming systems 2020-2023) includes 11 research partners around the Mediterranean basin (Egypt, Greek, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, and Spain).

The main scope of Cerealmed is to develop a biodiversity based agriculture system to secure the production of staple foods in the scenario of future climate changes. In this context, one of the specific objectives if the development of set of new genotypes including tritordeum.

Hexaploid tritordeum is the amphiploid derived from the cross between the wild barley (Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schultz.) and durum wheat. The registration of ‘Aucan’ and ‘Bulel’ allowed the cultivation of this new crop and the development of new products for consumers. Tritordeum products are characterized by a distinctive yellow colour due to carotenoids which allows for new end-uses and diversification compared to wheat-derived products. CerealMed project is allowing testing new tritordeum genotypes in different environments in Italy and Spain. A set of 20 breeding lines derived from Prof. Martin’s breeding program (local selection in Spain) were evaluated for agronomic and quality performance including yellow index, grain protein and beta-glucan content. A set of eight breeding lines have been selected considering the multi-trial analyses and are being currently tested this season. Preliminary data seem to indicate that these lines outperform ‘Aucan’, which is cultivated at present, and thus, these breeding lines have potential as new varieties.