Primitive weedy forms of guar,adak guar: possible missing link in the domestication of guar [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyamopsis tetragonoloba</Emphasis> (L.) Taub.]

Crop domestication has lead to the selection of a wide range of traits that distinguish domesticated crops from their wild ancestors. Over the past four decades, concerted efforts by archaeologists and geneticists have provided novel insights into the domestication of crops. However, minor crops are rarely a subject for intensive domestication studies and very less is known on the domestication of guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] except the trans-domestication hypothesis. The hypothesis proposes that the domestication of guar took place in recent times in the dry areas of the northwestern region of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent and the African wild species, C. senegalensis Guill. et Perr., as its ancestor. However, the process by which the wild species was domesticated is not fully understood. The present paper describes the exploration, collection and in situ characterization of the primitive weedy forms of guar that could be the missing link between the wild and cultivated species. Adak guar is found to grow along with cultivated guar as a weed and is characterized by several primitive characters, prominent among which are spreading habit, small inedible pods which shatter at maturity, hard seed coat and seed dormancy. A total of 66 germplasm collections of these primitive weedy forms of guar have been made from naturally occurring populations in the arid regions of northwestern India. Systematic studies involving these primitive weedy forms can help in understanding the domestication bottlenecks and in utilizing the genetic variation lost during the process of domestication for the improvement of cultivated guar.     

Monophyletic vs. polyphyletic origin of the crops on which agriculture was founded in the Near East

The following comparisons between crops and their closely related wild relatives provide clues for discriminating between monophyletic and polyphyletic origins under domestication: (i) Presence or absence of patterns indicative of founder effects in the cultivated genepool, compared to the amount of variation present in its wild progenitor. (ii) Uniformity or lack of uniformity (within a crop) in genes governing principal domestication traits (traits that were automatically selected for once the wild progenitor was introduced into cultivation). (iii) Species diversity: The number of closely related (congeneric) wild species with similar potential for domestication, native to the area under consideration; and how many of them entered cultivation. The present paper evaluates the information available on the eight crops that founded Neolithic agriculture in the Near East; and arrives at the conclusion that emmer wheat Triticum turgidum L. subsp. dicoccum Schúbler, einkorn wheat T. monococcum L., pea Pisum sativum L., and lentil Lens culinaris Medik. were very likely taken into cultivation only once or – at most – a very few times. Also chickpea Cicer arietinum L., bitter vetch Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd., and flax Linum usitatissimum L. seem to have been domesticated in a similar way, but the evidence concerning them is much scarcer. Only for barley Hordeum vulgare L. are there indications that it has been domesticated more than once – but again only a very few times.     

Wholesale replacement of lima bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus lunatus</Emphasis> L.) landraces over the last 30 years in northeastern Campeche,Mexico

Genetic erosion has been evaluated at the landrace level in the past, principally because the loss of landraces is believed to generate erosion at the allelic level; however, few studies had tested this hypothesis in the crop’s centers of diversity and domestication. Using microsatellite markers, we analyzed for genetic erosion in lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) landraces over time in samples collected in 1979 and in 2007 in northeast Campeche, in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, an important diversity center and part of the putative domestication area for this crop. We found that the lima bean genetic pool from 1979 had a higher genetic diversity than the one for the 2007 pool (Nei’s diversity, H = 0.18 and 0.05, respectively). Although this result could not to be explained using a bottleneck analysis, a cluster analysis showed that the alleles present in 1979 were not the same as those found in 2007, indicating an allelic displacement in the genetic pool of the lima bean landraces in the last 30 years. This displacement could be due to the introduction of improved varieties or landraces, resulting in a displacement of local varieties or to changes in the Mayan criteria for selection of germplasm or both. This study showed that the loss of landraces can generate both quantitative and qualitative changes in the genetic pool of the domesticated species. Such changes are very important to consider when planning ex situ and in situ programs to conserve crop diversity in their domestication areas.     

Biomolecular evidence for plant domestication in Sahul

The question of the introduction of domesticated plants from the Sunda plate (South-east Asia) to Sahul (New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania) has been a subject of speculation and debate for decades. This paper reviews recent phylogenetic studies conducted with biomolecular markers on bananas (Musa spp.), breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and the greater yam (Dioscorea alata). Biomolecular evidence for plant domestication in Sahul is presented and discussed. Biomolecular markers reveal that for these crops at least, domestication has occurred in New Guinea and further east in Melanesia. This domestication produced cultivated genotypes that were selected from the endemic wild gene pools. These areas of domestication still are important centres of diversity for crop species that also exist in Asia. For most crops, genetic distances are very important between the two gene pools due to the geographic isolation of the two continental plates. The implications of these findings have obvious bearings on genetic resources programme strategies and future surveys.     

驯化对植物微生物组结构和功能影响的研究进展

微生物组在植物的养分获取、健康生长过程中发挥重要作用.植物驯化对微生物组的结构和功能产生了不可忽视的影响,但是其机制仍缺少系统性梳理总结.为此,综述了驯化过程中,植物的类型和基因型、根外代谢产物、土壤生境的改变对微生物组的影响.通过多向比较归纳发现,在驯化过程中:(1)对微生物多样性影响显著.大多数植物微生物多样性随驯...     

Pollinator-dependent food production in Mexico

Animal pollination is one of the essential services provided by ecosystems to humans. In the face of a potential worldwide pollination crisis it is important to assess which countries may be more vulnerable in order to prioritize pollinator conservation efforts. The poverty level, the population density and the level of pollinator dependence for food provisioning are key aspects to identify vulnerable countries. We evaluate these aspects and determine the level of human food provisioning dependence on pollinators in Mexico, a developing and highly populated country. The diversity of crop species in Mexico is exceptionally high. Nearly 85% of fruit and/or seed consumed species depend to some degree on pollinators for productivity. Overall, pollinator-dependent crops generate larger income but cover a lower cultivated area and produce less volume compared to non-pollinator-dependent crops. Volume per unit area, however, as well as revenue per unit area, is much higher for pollinator-dependent crops. Native wild pollinators also play a key role in fruit or seed production of Mexican domesticated plant species and in the reproduction of many useful wild species. Thus, assuring free pollination services is particularly important in Mexico as the livelihood of a large proportion of the population exclusively and directly depends on ecosystem services for subsistence. Feasible conservation strategies involve the payment of environmental services to Ejidos (communal land tenure systems) making efforts to protect or restore plant resources and native pollinators, and the creation of new protected natural areas, which ensures food provision, mating and nesting sites for pollinators.     

Origin and ancestry of Egyptian clover (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium alexandrinum</Emphasis> L.) As revealed by AFLP markers

The origin and ancestry for Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum, was examined using AFLP data. The data support a close relationship of T. alexandrinum accessions from Syria and Egypt to T. apertum, T. berytheum, and T. salmoneum. However, crossability and geographic distributions suggest that T. apertum is an unlikely progenitor. In contrast, T. salmoneum appears to be the most probable progenitor for Syrian material of Egyptian clover, although a close relationship to T. berytheum was also revealed. The ability of these species to cross freely indicates that T. salmoneum and T. berytheum may be regarded as the primary ancestors from, which man domesticated Egyptian clover through artificial selection in Syria. Following domestication, the earlier forms of the crop species could have been taken into rain-fed cultivation in Palestine and irrigated cultivation in Egypt. In this regard, the domestication of Egyptian clover may be analogous to other crops, such as barley and wheat, which were also domesticated in the Fertile Crescent and taken into cultivation in the Nile Valley. It appears that genetic improvement of the crop occurred in Egypt after cultivation, and that the varieties that were developed in Egypt were later distributed worldwide.     

Gene flow among different teosinte taxa and into the domesticated maize gene pool

Maize (Zea mays L. ssp. mays) was domesticated from one wild species ancestor, the Balsas teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) about 9000 years ago. Higher levels of gene diversity are found in teosinte taxa compared to maize, following domestication and selection bottlenecks. Diversity in maize can be increased via gene flow from teosinte, which has certainly occurred from various taxa, but the rate of flow from different teosinte taxa and the final impact on maize evolution has been difficult to measure. One hundred populations from six Zea taxa, both domesticated (maize) and wild (teosinte), including domesticated landraces from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, were genotyped with 17 SSR markers using 15 individuals per population. Overall levels of diversity were high, and populations could be distinguished based on markers. Relationships between populations followed most published reports, or can now help resolve previously conflicting reports. Gene flow into maize from different teosinte groups, and gene flow between different teosintes, was estimated. Evidence for contributions from the Balsas teosintes and from Chalco teosintes (Z. mays ssp. mexicana) to the maize gene pool was found, as well as from Chalco into ssp. mexicana race ??Durango?? and Z. mays ssp. huehuetenengensis. These contributions are almost certainly the result of post-domestication (and ongoing) exchanges. This information must give more impetus to in situ conservation of teosinte species, and use of these teosintes to continue to direct the evolution of maize, especially in response to new diseases, insect pests, and other biotic and abiotic stresses.     

On the Origin of Almond

Almond, Amygdalus communis L., is an ancient crop of south west Asia. Selection of the sweet type marks the beginning of almond domestication. Wild almonds are bitter and eating even a relatively small number of nuts can be fatal. How man selected the sweet type remains a riddle. Also, the wild ancestor of almond has not been properly identified among the many wild almond species. Breeding experiment, which is the most critical test for identifying the wild progenitors of other crops, is ineffective in almond, because it is interfertile with many wild taxa. The so-called wild A. communis of central Asia cannot be regarded as a genuine wild form, but as a feral form, or remains of old afforestation. The wild taxa morphologically akin to almond, A. korshinskyi (H.-M.) Bomm. and A. webbii Spach, are also feral types occurring in the Middle East and southern Europe, respectively. The taxon A. fenzliana (Fritsch) Lipsky is the most likely wild ancestor of almond for three reasons: 1. It is a genuine wild type forming extensive thickets of large trees young seedlings and all the intergradations between them in nature; 2. Its morphology, and particularly the partially pitted grooved nut-shell are within the range of variation of almond, and 3. A. fenzliana is native of Armenia and western Azerbaijan in the Middle East where almond was apparently domesticated.     

DIVERSITY AND DYNAMICS OF MANAGEMENT OF GUM AND RESIN RESOURCES IN ETHIOPIA: A TRADE‐OFF BETWEEN DOMESTICATION AND DEGRADATION

Although the human domestication of forest and tree resources is often considered to result in resource degradation, it may also lead to improved resource potentials. This paper assesses the nature and dynamics of gum and resin focused woodland exploitation and management systems in Ethiopia in the context of degradation and domestication processes. In three sites with commercial gum resin producing woodlands and production history, we studied variation in (i) woodland management and gum resin production systems and (ii) socio‐economic and biophysical factors that condition the management and production systems. On the basis of their organizational features, we formulated nine production models and related them to different phases of domestication and different degrees of ecosystem degradation. The production systems gradually evolved from the extraction of wild trees to production in an adapted forest system. However, domesticated woodlands with an adapted forest structure and composition and increased provisioning services are still little developed despite decades of production history. Many of these woodlands are undergoing serious degradation because of low quality management practices. This is mainly attributable to existing land use practices and the social arrangements for the production of and trade in the gums and resins. The findings illustrate that domestication involves not only a change in ecological and production systems but also the development of social arrangements for production and trade. We conclude that the status of domestication in a social sense determines whether forests and/or specific forest resources are degraded or aggraded in the sense of resource enrichment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence for two gene pools of the Lima bean,Phaseolus lunatus L., in the Americas

Summary The lima bean,Phaseolus lunatus L., is a bean species with a broad distribution in the Americas that rivals that of common bean (P. vulgaris). In order to better understand the organization of genetic diversity and the pattern of domestication in lima bean, a review was conducted of the available information on the geographic distribution of wild and cultivated forms of this species. In addition, one-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of seed proteins was also conducted on a sample of 84 wild, 6 weedy, and 426 cultivated forms. Results show that wild forms can be divided into two groups, one with smaller seeds and a very extensive distribution that includes Mexico, Central America, and the eastern slope of the Andes, and the other with a more circumscribed distribution on the western slope of the Andes in Ecuador and northern Peru. Electrophoretic analyses of seed proteins confirmed this subdivision and, additionally, showed that the large-seeded cultivars had been domesticated from the large-seeded wild lima beans in western South America. For the small-seeded lima bean cultivars, it was not possible to determine a domestication center as the most abundant protein pattern in the cultivars also had a widespread distribution in the small-seeded wild progenitor. Electrophoretic analyses showed, however, that domestication led to a reduction of genetic diversity in the small-seeded, Mesoamerican group, but not in the large-seeded group. The latter may be due to insufficient sampling of the larger-seeded, wild germplasm.     

Similarity between the soil seed bank and the standing vegetation in the Strandveld Succulent Karoo,South Africa

The similarity in species composition and abundance between the soil seed bank and its associated vegetation was studied in six vegetation units of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo, South Africa. A total of 103 taxa were recorded in the vegetation, of which 34 taxa were also present in the seed bank. Five taxa were unique to the soil seed bank. In general, the taxa most abundant in the vegetation were also recorded in the seed bank and vice versa. Mean seed bank density varied between different plant types. Perennial taxa were most abundant in the vegetation, while annual taxa were most abundant in the seed bank. Annual taxa (excluding grasses) yielded the highest similarity between vegetation and seed bank (67ċ9 per cent), while that of perennial (excluding grasses) and grass taxa were 34ċ2 per cent and 40ċ0 per cent respectively. An overall similarity of 47ċ0 per cent between the seed bank and its associated vegetation was obtained for this part of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo. The seed bank of the study site will be a good source of future annual vegetation, but not of perennial vegetation. Topsoil replacement, sowing and transplanting of selected species will be essential for the success of post‐mining revegetation efforts following complete destruction of the existing vegetation. Annual species may be recruited from the soil stored seed bank, while many perennial species will have to be reintroduced by means of sowing and/or transplanting. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Taxonomic remarks on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum</Emphasis> L. and ×<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticosecale</Emphasis> Wittm.

The recent treatment of Triticum by Mac Key (2005) (broad species concept) is compared to the classical treatment by Dorofeev et al. (1979, English translation expected) (narrow species concept). A detailed infraspecific treatment was abandoned by Mac Key. Following his revision, names for many of the infraspecific taxa become obsolete. This is regarded to be a disadvantage for biodiversity and genetic resources studies. We propose maintaining ×Triticosecale Wittm. as a nothogenus, with ×T. rimpaui Wittm. for octoploid races, ×T. neoblaringhemii A. Camus for hexaploid races and ×T. semisecale (Mac Key) K. Hammer et A. Filat. (new combination) for tetraploid races.     

Yam (Dioscorea ssp.) domestication by the Nago and Fon ethnic groups in Benin

Guinea yams (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata complex; D. rotundata Poir. and D. cayenensis Lam.) have been described as resulting from a process of domestication of wild yams of the section Enantiophyllum by African farmers. Although currently practised by few farmers, the process of yam domestication is still on-going in Benin. In order to document the practices used and the indigenous knowledge maintained by Nago and Fon farmers, 27 villages were surveyed. In total, 57 farmers domesticating yam were identified, and 68 yams newly domesticated (or in domestication) were collected. Fon and Nago farmers domesticate yam mainly to widen the genetic basis of the existing diversity or for simple curiosity. Among the three wild yams species (D. abyssinica Hochst. ex Kunth, D. praehensilis Benth. and D. burkilliana J. Miège) used, D. praehensilis is the most important and the most exploited. Tuber of the wild yams are collected either in the bush (most often near the village) or in the forests (far from the village) during hunting. The domestication process consists of bringing into cultivation selected individuals which go through intense vegetative multiplication and selection procedures (over a lengthy but variable period of time) that induce morphological and biochemical changes in the plant mainly at the tuber level. Individuals resulting from these manipulations were found to be, either similar or identical to known landraces or completely new based on both morphological and isozyme analysis. Because it leads to some new cultivars, this process of domestication has potential in yam breeding and appears to be a strategy that could be useful to breeders, while developing a methodology for participatory breeding of yam.     

Geographic distribution and domestication of wild emmer wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum dicoccoides</Emphasis>)

The transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture had revolutionary consequences for the development of human societies. Crops such as wheat, barley, lentil, pea and chickpea played a crucial role in the establishment of complex civilizations in south west Asia. Wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) was one of the first cereals to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent between c. 12,000 and c. 10,000 years ago. This step provided the key for subsequent bread wheat evolution. Wild emmer is found today in the western Fertile Crescent in Jordan, Syria and Israel, the central part of southeastern Turkey and mountain areas in eastern Iraq and western Iran. In this review, we summarize issues concerning geography and domestication of wild emmer wheat based on published molecular and archaeobotanical data and on our recent findings. We suggest that modern domestic tetraploid wheats derived from wild emmer lines from southeast Turkey. However, our understanding of emmer domestication is not complete. The “dispersed-specific” domestication model proposed for einkorn might well be appropriate also for emmer.     

The sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis>) in Mexico: further evidence for a North American domestication

I have concluded that my initial verification of a specimen recovered from the San Andrés archaeological site in Mexico as domesticated sunflower was incorrect. The specimen in question is most likely the seed of a bottle gourd. As yet there is no compelling evidence that the sunflower was grown as a food crop in Mexico prior to European contact. In addition, the complete absence of any early historical record for the sunflower in Mexico argues against its presence in pre-Columbian times. Although no dates or boundaries can be set, the wild sunflower may have grown in northernmost Mexico in early times. A southward range expansion for the species is probably very recent, perhaps in the last few hundred years with the development of a modern road system. The widely used common names of the sunflower in Mexico are in Spanish or with Spanish words in them, which suggests that the sunflower is a post-contact arrival.

Foliar response of wild and domesticated Phaseolus vulgaris L. to water stress

It is surmised that domestication has reduced geneticvariability in the common bean (Phaseolusvulgaris L.). However, little is known about leaf anatomy responses to water stress in wild or domesticated forms ofP. vulgaris. In this study,anatomical variation was evaluated in watered and water stressed plants of wild and domesticated genotypes of P.vulgaris from Mexico, growing under greenhouse conditions. Five terminal leaflets of completely expanded leaves wereused to evaluate leaf area (LA) and theirmiddle-regions to evaluate leaf thickness (LT), and various anatomical features. Domesticated genotypes showed bigger LAthan that of the wild ones; there was an effect due to the origin of materials, LA being bigger in genotypes from warm and humid lands that those from dry and temperate ones. No differences were detected in LT among materials; however, in domesticated plants the palisadeparenchyma predominated over the spongy one, contrasting with thewild genotypes. Under drought conditions, stomatal abortion was observed in wild and domesticated genotypes, especially on theabaxial surface. We conclude that, in fact, there are contrasting differences in leaf anatomy among wild and domesticated forms of Mexican Phaseolus vulgaris. Results suggest that domestication not only favours the enlargement of the LA, but also an increase in palisade parenchyma, suggesting a divergence toward assimilation in domesticated forms, in contrast with a better internal gas diffusion in wild forms. Domestication seems to have accentuated stomatal abortion as means of a transpirational control mechanism to counteract the effects of drought.     

Genetic diversity among varieties of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Chia, Salvia hispanica L., was a staple crop in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Despite the great potential of the species as an oilseed crop, little research related to domesticated and wild varieties exists. A study was undertaken to assess genetic diversity among 38 wild and domesticated accessions of S. hispanica collected throughout Mesoamerica by using RAPD markers. Genetic diversity was higher among wild varieties (H _G= 0.15) than all domesticated varieties (H _G= 0.10) and modern commercial domesticated varieties (H _G= 0.02), suggesting a slight loss of diversity accompanying domestication and a near lack of diversity in modern commercial varieties. In addition, the preliminary results indicate that the center of genetic diversity is in the highlands of western Mexico.     

Evolution of sesame revisited: domestication, diversity and prospects

This is an account of genetic, phytochemical, historical and cultural studies of sesame, Sesamum orientale L. and its wild relatives. The Pedaliaceae family, to which sesame belongs, is found chiefly in tropical Africa, with two unique sections of the genus Sesamum exclusive to India. Many authors who write about the domestication of sesame reiterate the widely published statement that sesame was domesticated in Africa. The evidence for this view is critically examined. Genetic and chemical data demonstrate the difficulty of accepting an African origin of the crop. Data are presented to authenticate the Indian subcontinent as the place where sesame was domesticated.     

Wild almonds gone wild: revisiting Darwin’s statement on the origin of peaches

There is a general consensus that cultivated almond was domesticated in western Asia while cultivated peach was domesticated in China; however, the lack of a comprehensive phylogeny of cultivated peaches and almonds and their wild relatives has until recently rendered the controversy over the origin of these plants, their interrelationships and their domestication difficult to decipher. This shortcoming has made Darwin’s hypothesis that peaches are almonds modified in a marvelous manner difficult to test. In this work, Darwin’s hypothesis is revisited based on the first comprehensive molecular and morphological phylogeny of almonds, peaches and their wild relatives. The analysis reveals that cultivated peaches and cultivated almonds are closely related but not sister species. It also reveals that Darwin’s hypothesis was not entirely wrong, particularly considering the species concept he was employing.