Durum, Jaljuli

Jaljuli is a Biblical Durum Wheat (one of 2 varieties discovered at an excavation of Masada in the 1970’s. The other wheat was Hourani).

Photos and Description courtesy of John Sherck and Brynn Foster

Grower Notes

John Sherck, Bristol, IN: I obtained this seed from USDA CIMMYT in 2014.  The plants were very weak, which in my experience, is typical for material that has been in long term, frozen storage. Jaljuli is thought to be the link between easily threshed, hull-less durum and ancient Emmer wheat. Even with the less than robust growth, the seed heads yielded reasonably, good quality kernels, that were disease free for the most part. There was a small amount of visible FHB (fusarium head blight). Very RARE.

I am offering this seed for the purpose of preservation. Grain fill in my region (northern Indiana) is less than one would expect in areas more suitable to raising spring wheat (cooler and more arid). This variety will need selection and adaptation to improve grain fill, yield and disease resistance in regions with frequent spring/summer rains, humidity and heat.