Origins of Cultivated Origins of Cultivated PlantsPlants

Chapter 2

Why were plants domesticated?Why were plants domesticated?

• Steady food source.

• Higher TDN

• Storage

• Steady food source.

• Higher TDN

• Storage

Methods of DomesticationMethods of Domestication

• Seed or sexual propagation• Cereal grain among the first• Shattering Vs non-shattering types• Plant close together• Seed dormancy• Selection pressures

• Seed or sexual propagation• Cereal grain among the first• Shattering Vs non-shattering types• Plant close together• Seed dormancy• Selection pressures

Two main RegionsTwo main Regions

• Old World = Asia and Asia Minor– Fertile Crescent = eastern end of the

Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia

• New World = Central Mexico to Chile

• Old World = Asia and Asia Minor– Fertile Crescent = eastern end of the

Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia

• New World = Central Mexico to Chile

Domestication of PlantsDomestication of Plants

• 8000 – 9000 B.C. evidence of agricultural villages.

• Radio carbon dating suggests 5000 – 6000 B.C.

• Africa – 4000 B.C.• Chinese 4000 B.C.

• 8000 – 9000 B.C. evidence of agricultural villages.

• Radio carbon dating suggests 5000 – 6000 B.C.

• Africa – 4000 B.C.• Chinese 4000 B.C.

New Crops and New UsesNew Crops and New Uses

• American farmers produce highest yields in the world.

• Develop new crops and new markets

• American farmers produce highest yields in the world.

• Develop new crops and new markets

The Big FourThe Big Four

• Rice

• Wheat

• Corn

• Potatoes

• Rice

• Wheat

• Corn

• Potatoes

RiceRice

• Feeds over half of the world

• There are 25 species

• Mutations and hybrid response for improvements

• Short, medium and long

• Feeds over half of the world

• There are 25 species

• Mutations and hybrid response for improvements

• Short, medium and long

WheatWheat

• White & Red

• Hybrids has increased vigor

• Hard to increase yields because of self pollination

• White & Red

• Hybrids has increased vigor

• Hard to increase yields because of self pollination

CornCorn

• Cultures based on corn

• Corn mutates easily

• Important for its color size and shape

• Hybrid corn in 1930’s

• Cultures based on corn

• Corn mutates easily

• Important for its color size and shape

• Hybrid corn in 1930’s

PotatoPotato

• When planted from seed much different from parents

• Selection/tuber division

• Seed “tubers”

• When planted from seed much different from parents

• Selection/tuber division

• Seed “tubers”

Hatch Act of 1887Hatch Act of 1887

• Experiment stations at each of the land-grand colleges.

• Davis & Berkley

• Experiment stations at each of the land-grand colleges.

• Davis & Berkley

SurplusSurplus

• Marketing Plans

• Produce the think about selling.

• Marketing Plans

• Produce the think about selling.

Germ PlasmGerm Plasm

• Introduction-new plant materials

• Maintenance-banks and collections

• Evaluation- screening and tests

• Distribution-made free of charge to scientists

• Introduction-new plant materials

• Maintenance-banks and collections

• Evaluation- screening and tests

• Distribution-made free of charge to scientists

Why Protect our germ plasmWhy Protect our germ plasm