Agriculture & Plant Domestication

Question 1

Neolithic Revolution (Agriculture)

Answer 1

10-11,000 years ago

Question 2

Agriculture better than forest gardening?

Answer 2

Better to increase productivity to support the growing population - became necessary

Question 3

Agriculture changed human society by causing:

Answer 3

• clear division of labour

- permanent settlements

Question 4

What is agriculture?

Answer 4

Artificial selection, modifying organisms to suit our needs

Question 5

T/F

Artificial selection causes evolution

Answer 5

True - but the evolution of cultivated/domesticated species

Question 6

Cultivar

Answer 6

Version/type of cultivated plant (like heirloom carrots)

Question 7

Goals of artificial selection

Answer 7

Increase size of harvested organs
Increase diversity of harvested organs
Increase diversity of a specific harvested organ
Increase size/diversity of flowers & petals

Question 8

T/F

Cultivars can easily survive in nature

Answer 8

F - they’ve been altered so severely that they probably can’t survive at all or well in nature

Question 9

Cabbage & Brussel Sprouts came from the wild plant ___, specifically the organ ____

Answer 9

Brassica oleracea buds

Question 10

From Brassica olaracea inflorescences we got:

Answer 10

Broccoli & Cauliflower

Question 11

T/F

Brassica oleracea has a flexible genome

Answer 11

True - allowing us to produce so many cultivars from one species

Question 12

Example of artificial selection to increase diversity of a specific organ:

Answer 12

Capsicum annuum (pepper plant, specifically the berries)

Question 13

T/F

Ornamental plants were domesticated at the same time as edible plants

Answer 13

False - only within the last 2000 years or so b/c we had to focus on feeding people before non-essential agriculture

Question 14

Rosa (& other ornamental plants) was cultivated for:

Answer 14

large, colourful, numerous petals/carpals

Question 15

T/F

Organs not artificially selected for will have low variation between species

Answer 15

True - this allows germination/growth etc. to remain stable processes

Question 16

T/F

Cloning plants has no negative consequences

Answer 16

False - All clones are genetically identical and therefore susceptible to the same pathogens/pests etc.

Question 17

A Germplasm collection is:

Answer 17

Stores of early cultivars or native varieties of plants to maintain genetic variation

Question 18

How many plants have we created for food?

Answer 18

about 5000 species

Question 19

How many ornamental cultivars have we made?

Answer 19

Millions

Question 20

How did we get so many cultivars?

Answer 20

Artificial selection very strong = fast diversity (directional selection)

Question 21

Centers of origin theory:

Answer 21

The area with the greatest diversity of a crop is likely the origin of that crop

Question 22

Domesticated in the Fertile Crescent (Near East)

Answer 22

Wheat, Barley, Peas, Chickpeas, Olives, Dates, Grapes, Flax

Question 23

Domesticated in China/East Asia

Answer 23

Rice, Soybeans, Mango, Citrus, Bananas (hybridized)

Question 24

Domesticated in Africa

Answer 24

Coffee, Sorghum, Millet, Yams, Cotton

Question 25

Domesticated in Mesoamerica

Answer 25

Corn, Kidney/Lima beans, Peanuts, Cotton,Peppers, Amaranth, Tomatoes, Tobacco, Cacao, Pineapple, Pumpkin/Squash, Avocado

Question 26

Domesticated in South America

Answer 26

Potato, Tomatoes, Quinoa, Amaranth, Strawberries

Question 27

Domestication of plants (and animals) was:
A) one of the main contributions of the shamans
B) A rapid evolutionary process driven by artificial selection
C) Something that foraging societies began doing in forest gardens
D) The result of breeding and genetics
E) First done by Ancient Greek & Roman Civilizations

Answer 27

B

Question 28

In which of the geographical areas below NO plants were domesticated? 
A) Mexico/Mesoamerica
B) South America
C) Australia 
D) Africa 
E) Asia

Answer 28

C