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. 2025 Jul 4:6:e21.
doi: 10.1017/qpb.2025.10010. eCollection 2025.

Participatory assessment of minor crops: A situated study on hulled wheats

Sofía Correa  1   2   3   4 , Mathieu Thomas  3   4 , Justine Lepagneul  2 , Aubin Démonté  1   5 ; CRBA; Pierre Berthet  6 , Jean-Philippe Clair  7 , Christian Dalmasso  8 , Cédric Mary  8 , Denis Mignard  9 , Honorine Périno  9 , Marie-Pierre Répécaud  6 , Stéphane Rouvès  10 , Léa Bernard  8 , Gustave Fradin  11 , Camille Vindras-Fouillet  12 , Jean-François Vian  5 , Olivier Hamant  1 , Marie-Thérèse Charreyre  2
Affiliations

Participatory assessment of minor crops: A situated study on hulled wheats

Sofía Correa et al. Quant Plant Biol. .

Abstract

Expanding crop diversity is essential to address the imminent challenges of agriculture. This is especially true for organic farming, which relies on locally adapted species and varieties. Recently, participatory research approaches have emerged as effective means to support this endeavour. In this study, we collaborated with several stakeholders in the Lyon region, France, to evaluate three minor species related to common wheat (Triticum aestivum subsp. aestivum): einkorn (Triticum monococcum subsp. monococcum), emmer (Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum) and spelt (Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta (L.) Thell). First, we assessed the agronomic characteristics of each species, highlighting a distinction of einkorn that was associated with high tillering, high protein content, a long phenological cycle, small kernels and low relative yields. Second, we compared intra-species variabilities, revealing greater variation in emmer and spelt. Lastly, outcomes of the participatory approach, including testing adaptive methods and fostering collective learning, may interest other participatory research groups.

Keywords: einkorn; emmer; hulled wheats; minor species; organic farming; participatory research; spelt.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare none.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Analysis of agronomic variables of all varieties of einkorn, emmer, spelt and common wheat. (a) Ear morphology of the varieties under study. For mixtures of common wheat, several ears are represented to picture the intra-varietal diversity. (b, c) PCA on agronomic variables. (b) Plot of variables. Colours indicate the quality of representation (cos2) of each variable. Em, emergence; GC, ground cover; PH, plant height; Post, posture; Prot, protein content; Rel, relative. (c) Plot of individuals, with 95% confidence ellipses of the mean point for each species.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Values of all agronomic variables for all varieties. For quantitative variables, the mean values are represented by histograms. Black dots and triangles indicate the values for each of the two blocks (dots = values for Block 1 and triangles = values for Block 2). For qualitative variables, coloured dots and triangles indicate the values for each of the two blocks (dots = values for Block 1 and triangles = values for Block 2). Each species is represented by a colour: blue for einkorn, red for emmer, yellow for spelt and green for common wheat. In panels b and e, SP: spreading, INT: intermediate and UR: upright.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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