Lynn, before this current hybrid wheat a cross between wheat and barley as far as I remember, we had a wheat strain whose ears were in a shape of a cone. I have been trying to find this wheat but no success so far. This strain was resistant to local pests, did not require much water. The down side was low yield. As far as land races go we have vegetables now losing ground against modern strains which thrived in arid and frosty conditions. These local ones tasted better that is why I catch hold of seeds if some farmers has some to spare. We have a strain of corn three feet high that grows in only four inches of soil. All losing ground in front of these high yield new strains.
Regards,
Arif.
