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Scientists invite the public to "Meet the Ancestors" at the Chelsea Flower Show
May 17, 2002Scientists at the John Innes Centre (JIC), Norwich[1], are in the final stages of their preparations for this year's Chelsea Flower Show[2] where they will be inviting the public to 'Meet the Ancestors - of the past and the future'. Visitors to the JIC exhibit will be able to compare modern crops with the wild plants that are their ancestors and learn how familiar ornamental, spice and salad plants might become the crops of the future.
The JIC's exhibit is available for viewing by the Press between 10:30 and 12:30 on the 15th May 2002 at the John Innes Centre, Norwich or at the Chelsea Flower Show 20th - 24th May 2002
"Our exhibits at Chelsea have always proved to be an excellent way for our scientists to talk with the general public about cutting-edge science" said Dr Ray Mathias (Head of Science Communication and Education at the JIC). "We hope that 'Meet the Ancestors' will continue in that tradition. This year's display will introduce some of the ways, and some of the reasons why, humans have modified wild plants for their own use. In addition to existing crops we will also be demonstrating that familiar plants might prove to be the ancestors of crops of the future".
'Meet the Ancestors - of the past and the future' will consist of a cultivated garden, with greenhouse, adjacent to a wild area of scrubland. In the garden will be growing cultivated forms of wheat, cabbages, broccoli, turnips, oilseed rape, tomatoes, potatoes and peas, while in the wild area, literally 'over the fence', will be their wild relatives. The display will explain how mutations and hybridisations have generated new species and new plant types from the wild forms, which humans have then domesticated by taking them into their fields and gardens as crops.
The garden will also contain wild rocket (a salad crop), marigolds (an ornamental) and coriander (a spice). All of these produce interesting chemicals in the oil in their seeds and are potentially new crops that could supply renewable raw materials for making plastics, paints, adhesives etc.
John Innes Centre
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