There are different statements in the literature about the genetic origin of spelt. It is generally agreed that wild emmer, which has continued to be cultivated over many years, is the ancestor of both spelt and wheat. Spelt probably originated from several crossbreeds between club wheat (T. compactum) and the cultivated emmer in its husk. This is said to have happened around 8000 BC in the area of the Fertile Crescent (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Turkey). From here, spelt spread further into Europe. In addition to European spelt, an Asian (Persian) and a Georgian form of spelt which differ morphologically is said to have developed over the millennia, (Graushuber 2017 and 2018). Although wheat and spelt are genetically closely related, they can be distinguished nowadays using modern biomolecular methods.
