"IT IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR MEDITERRANEAN AGRICULTURE TO DEVELOP NEW VARIETIES OF DURUM WHEAT WITH GREATER PRODUCTION POTENTIAL, TOGETHER WITH A BETTER ADAPTATION TO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND BETTER QUALITY OF GRAIN. WHILE THAT HARD WHEAT IT HAS BENEFITED AS OTHER CEREALS OF THE GREEN REVOLUTION, GENETIC PROGRESS IN RECENT DECADES HAS BEEN LESS EVIDENT, PARTLY MASKED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS ARE NOT WELL KNOWN.