Agriculture & Plant Domestication Flashcards
Neolithic Revolution (Agriculture)
10-11,000 years ago
Agriculture better than forest gardening?
Better to increase productivity to support the growing population - became necessary
Agriculture changed human society by causing:
- clear division of labour
- permanent settlements
What is agriculture?
Artificial selection, modifying organisms to suit our needs
T/F
Artificial selection causes evolution
True - but the evolution of cultivated/domesticated species
Cultivar
Version/type of cultivated plant (like heirloom carrots)
Goals of artificial selection
Increase size of harvested organs
Increase diversity of harvested organs
Increase diversity of a specific harvested organ
Increase size/diversity of flowers & petals
T/F
Cultivars can easily survive in nature
F - they’ve been altered so severely that they probably can’t survive at all or well in nature
Cabbage & Brussel Sprouts came from the wild plant ___, specifically the organ ____
Brassica oleracea buds
From Brassica olaracea inflorescences we got:
Broccoli & Cauliflower
T/F
Brassica oleracea has a flexible genome
True - allowing us to produce so many cultivars from one species
Example of artificial selection to increase diversity of a specific organ:
Capsicum annuum (pepper plant, specifically the berries)
T/F
Ornamental plants were domesticated at the same time as edible plants
False - only within the last 2000 years or so b/c we had to focus on feeding people before non-essential agriculture
Rosa (& other ornamental plants) was cultivated for:
large, colourful, numerous petals/carpals
T/F
Organs not artificially selected for will have low variation between species
True - this allows germination/growth etc. to remain stable processes
T/F
Cloning plants has no negative consequences
False - All clones are genetically identical and therefore susceptible to the same pathogens/pests etc.
A Germplasm collection is:
Stores of early cultivars or native varieties of plants to maintain genetic variation
How many plants have we created for food?
about 5000 species
How many ornamental cultivars have we made?
Millions
How did we get so many cultivars?
Artificial selection very strong = fast diversity (directional selection)
Centers of origin theory:
The area with the greatest diversity of a crop is likely the origin of that crop
Domesticated in the Fertile Crescent (Near East)
Wheat, Barley, Peas, Chickpeas, Olives, Dates, Grapes, Flax
Domesticated in China/East Asia
Rice, Soybeans, Mango, Citrus, Bananas (hybridized)
Domesticated in Africa
Coffee, Sorghum, Millet, Yams, Cotton
Domesticated in Mesoamerica
Corn, Kidney/Lima beans, Peanuts, Cotton,Peppers, Amaranth, Tomatoes, Tobacco, Cacao, Pineapple, Pumpkin/Squash, Avocado
Domesticated in South America
Potato, Tomatoes, Quinoa, Amaranth, Strawberries
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
B
In which of the geographical areas below NO plants were domesticated? A) Mexico/Mesoamerica B) South America C) Australia D) Africa E) Asia
C
