Articles tagged with Crop Domestication
A new study by the Boyce Thompson Institute has created a detailed map of the genetic controls behind tomato flavor and traits, allowing breeders to target specific genes for developing tastier and more nutritious tomatoes. The research used hybrid plants to compare gene activity in cultivated tomatoes and three wild relatives, pinpoin...
Researchers have discovered a rich genetic diversity of avocado varieties in Central America, including those grown in Nicaragua, which could help boost sustainable agriculture and commercial varieties. By analyzing DNA from local farmers and examining leaf samples, the team found evidence of ancient migration from South America thousa...
Scientists have identified the Yucatan Peninsula as the origin of modern cotton, tracing back its lineage to a diverse population native to Mexico. The study reveals that domestication led to a genetic bottleneck, narrowing the gene pool in successive generations.
Kaminski's work highlights the importance of perennial foods, which represent a way of belonging to the earth and a different way of farming. Her poem 'Neighbors' captures the bonds of reciprocity created through shared practices like tending to plants, highlighting the connection between community, land, and emotional content.
Using new genetic markers, fruit breeders can predict flower sex type and seedlessness in muscadines and other grapes with high accuracy. The approach will save time and resources in developing new grape varieties, including the major challenge of creating flavorful seedless muscadines on self-pollinating vines.
The John Innes Centre has been awarded £21.5m in funding to support four precision breeding projects, aiming to reduce emissions and strengthen crop resilience. These projects will help protect two major agricultural crops from diseases, enhance the nutritional content of tomatoes, and develop sustainable sources of rubber.
Researchers analyzed stone tools from 14 archaeological sites and found starch granules from the Four Corners Potato, supporting early domestication. The study reveals that Indigenous people intentionally cultivated and transported the tuber across the Colorado Plateau.
Researchers found starch granules on ancient tools, dating back thousands of years, indicating the Four Corners potato was transported and used by Indigenous peoples. The study reveals a unique cultural identity developed through ancient transport, still significant among Native American communities.
The Scaling Hub South Asia is a multi-sector platform designed to accelerate proven agricultural, water, and energy innovations. It aims to strengthen regional food and water security for over 500 million people in South Asia.
A five-day DSI training workshop at ICRISAT strengthened technical and institutional capacity of 18 scientists from 12 countries across Asia and Africa. The program enabled participants to handle and analyze Digital Sequence Information, integrating genomic data into genebank databases.
A new study suggests that avocado growing areas in India will moderately expand northward and to higher elevations under low to moderate global emissions. However, if global emissions continue to rise, suitable zones may fragment and destabilize by 2070. The researchers call for conservation and climate-resilient cultivation strategies.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory use CRISPR to edit the goldenberry plant, reducing its growth by 35% and making it suitable for denser farming. The team hopes to breed plants with desirable traits such as fruit size and disease resistance.
A breakthrough study has identified varieties and key genes to halt pre-harvest sprouting in groundnut due to unseasonal rains, offering a powerful safeguard against severe financial losses. The research provides valuable insights for breeding improved varieties with fresh seed dormancy.
Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute engineered compact goldenberry plants that are 35% shorter than their wild relatives, making them viable for commercial agriculture. These new plants have the same nutritional profile as commercially available goldenberries but can be grown at higher density and with reduced maintenance.
Eight countries support the Resilient Agriculture Investment for net-Zero land degradation (RAIZ) accelerator, which offers a 'quadruple-win' for climate, biodiversity, food security, and desertification. RAIZ aims to mobilize $105 billion in private investment to restore degraded agricultural land at scale.
The book explores how CEH can enhance yield, quality, and resource efficiency through technological innovation. It also highlights the role of biotechnology in ensuring global food security.
A new study found that the arrival of boll weevils in the US South in the early 20th century led to improved economic outcomes for Black sons born after the agricultural shock. The researchers examined changes in earnings, occupations, and residences for Black males before and after the boll weevil's appearance.
Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo recognized for her work on Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH), a technology accelerating the production of clean planting materials. The innovation boosts agricultural productivity, food security, and creates opportunities for youth and women agripreneurs.
A team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has developed a low-cost, non-invasive method to estimate total leaf area in dwarf tomato plants. The study applies structure-from-motion techniques and machine learning to predict plant growth with remarkable accuracy, making precision agriculture more accessible.
Researchers have developed a new measurement method to accurately quantify allergy-triggering proteins (ATIs) in barley. Analyzing over 180 barley accessions from around the world, they identified ten barley-specific ATI types for the first time, revealing varying content between 1.1 and 5.2 milligrams per gram of flour.
A new study by Texas A&M University is tracking the health effects of living in an agrihood community, where residents have access to a working farm and green spaces. The study aims to measure changes in physical activity, nutrition, and social connectedness among participants.
Researchers found that a single synonymous mutation in a gene drives cucumber elongation by altering RNA structure and function. This breakthrough has significant implications for crop breeding programs and may lead to the development of precision-crop improvement techniques.
A new study developed a powerful method for detecting simultaneous nitrogen and water deficiencies in field-grown sesame using deep learning and multiple data sources. The integration of hyperspectral, thermal, and RGB imaging enabled identification of combined nutrient and water-related deficiencies.
Researchers at Colorado State University have demonstrated the reversal of embolism in a type of wild grass, which can recover from extended drought within 24 hours. This finding has significant implications for improving agricultural productivity and food security, as it could potentially be bred into crops to make them more resilient...
Scientists have discovered a way to adapt food crops to Earth's changing climate using plant genebanks, which store millions of genetically diverse plants. This innovative approach combines DNA data with climate information to predict the best crops for future conditions.
Researchers created the most comprehensive genetic atlas of cannabis, revealing unprecedented diversity and untapped opportunity in this foundational agricultural species. The study sets the stage for transformative advances in cannabis-based agriculture, medicine, and industry.
Researchers used drones with advanced cameras to measure how wheat plants cope with climate change, identifying key traits like leaf area index and chlorophyll content. They matched these traits to specific genes in the wheat genome, discovering 16 genetic markers linked to better performance under normal and dry conditions.
Rajeev Varshney, a Murdoch University professor, has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He is recognized for his groundbreaking work in genomics, genetics, and pre-breeding, helping to secure food production in the face of climate change.
Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute developed a new method for transforming maize using leaf whorls, reducing the need for advanced growing facilities. The new technique has been tested on two maize genotypes and shown to be effective in boosting plant resistance.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have discovered genes that can strengthen rice crops against environmental stresses such as heat, drought, and salinity. The study also identified a comprehensive framework for developing robust rice crops that can thrive in challenging environments.
Researchers identified crucial structural variations that determine seed size and weight in peanuts, paving the way for improved legume crops. A pangenome of peanut was assembled, serving as a fundamental resource for genetic enhancement.
Researchers from Politecnico di Milano developed a study analyzing agrivoltaics' potential to reduce global conflict over land use. The coexistence of photovoltaic panels and agricultural crops can help solve the pressure on arable land due to growing energy demand and food production needs.
Researchers identify CLE16 peptide as key molecule promoting symbiotic relationship between plants and beneficial soil fungi. Supplementing with this peptide or its fungal equivalent can enhance nutrient exchange and strengthen these traits in crops.
Researchers discover that the CaMYB80 transcription factor enhances cold tolerance in pepper plants by targeting the CaPOA1 gene and boosting antioxidant activity. This finding holds promise for breeding cold-resistant crops to mitigate climate change impacts on agriculture.
Researchers Rob Martienssen and Thomas Gingeras analyzed maize and teosinte genomes to identify regulatory regions controlling gene expression. They found hundreds of thousands of enhancers and super enhancers that were strongly selected during domestication 9,000 years ago.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have proposed that certain wild plant species possess key genetic and morphological traits making them more suitable for domestication. The study aims to inform future work on adapting species to improve food security in a changing climate.
Researchers from the University of Lausanne used genome editing to repair a deleterious domestication mutation in the tomato genome. This resulted in an earlier yielding variety, which could have implications for agriculture and sustainability. The study demonstrates the potential benefits of genome editing for crop breeding.
Scientists emphasize the need for gene editing and plant domestication to protect food supplies due to the climate crisis. Researchers propose two strategies: introducing genes that support resistance to environmental stress into existing crops or domesticate wild plants with lower yields but higher resilience.
Researchers reconstructed the journey of maize into eastern North America, tracing its dispersal routes and history of selection. Ancient genomes reveal a genetic link between Northern Flints and 1,000-year-old Ozark maize, highlighting early adaptations for local climates and culinary preferences.
Brazilian scientists have discovered ancient maize specimens in caves that exhibit primitive traits similar to those of the ancestral plant from Mexico, where domestication began. The findings support the theory that domestication may also occurred in South America.
A comprehensive study reveals that global crop yields have continued to grow at roughly the same rate since the 1960s, offsetting any slowdown in specific crops or regions. The findings highlight the need for sustainable food production and affordability to address future food security challenges.
A large-scale pre-Columbian fish-trapping facility was discovered in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, dating back to the Late Archaic period around 2000-1900 BCE. The facility, which included a network of linear channels and ponds, would have yielded enough fish to feed up to 15,000 people year-round.
Researchers developed super-infective ternary vector systems that equip Agrobacterium with enzymes to break down plant defense molecules. This approach has led to dramatic improvements in gene transfer and editing efficiency, especially in crops like Cannabis sativa and tomato.
The study reveals that valuable diversity can arise after domestication, shedding light on crop evolution and breeding. The researchers detected 173 structurally complex loci with nearly identical tandem repeats and genes in the barley pangenome.
The study reveals key genetic traits that could enhance disease resistance, climate adaptability, and crop yield in macadamia. Genome annotation also identified genes associated with fatty acid biosynthesis and antimicrobial properties conserved across species.
A gene called COLD6 contributes to cold tolerance in rice by triggering 2',3'-cAMP signaling to initiate a defense reaction against low temperature. This pathway may also apply to other crops, improving their cold tolerance.
A new study reveals that ant agriculture and fungus farming originated 66 million years ago, with colonies of ants beginning to cultivate fungi in the aftermath of the asteroid impact. This partnership has evolved over time, with some fungal crops becoming completely reliant on ants 27 million years ago.
A new study has uncovered the hidden diversity of wild banana relatives in mainland Southeast Asia, showcasing their potential as future crop varieties. The research emphasizes the urgent need to preserve these genetic resources to ensure global food security.
A century-old experiment has pinpointed the genes behind barley's adaptability, enabling its continued survival in rapidly changing environments. Researchers identified key genes that enable flowering at optimal times, allowing crops to thrive despite increased temperatures and droughts.
A recent study reveals that whole genome duplications significantly enhance oil content in oil crops, providing a promising strategy for increasing vegetable oil yields. The findings highlight the crucial role of WGDs in driving the evolution of oil biosynthetic genes and supporting the adaptation and productivity of oil crops.
Genetic analysis reveals that ancient Indigenous people brought the native tuber to southern Utah, adding to the list of culturally significant plant species domesticated in the Southwestern U.S. The Four Corners potato was transported and cultivated by various tribes, including Pueblo and Apache communities.
Cultivated rice has also evolved into weedy varieties that shatter and are successful in limiting production worldwide. A long abscission zone is a key factor in ease of shattering across various weedy groups, indicating humans' management inadvertently selects for these traits.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of early plant farming in east Africa, revealing a pattern of gradual introductions of different crops that originated from different parts of the continent. The study found domesticated cowpea, sorghum, and finger millet seeds dating back to around 2,300 years ago.
A study identifies a key genetic variation affecting stress response in tomatoes, enabling breeders to enhance crop resilience against soil salinization. The SlSCaBP8 gene plays a critical role in regulating saline-alkaline tolerance.
A new study reveals the continuous evolutionary history of rice from wild to domesticated over 100,000 years, with China identified as its birthplace. The research provides new evidence for understanding the development of human society and the origins of agricultural civilization.
A team of researchers has identified two long noncoding RNA genes that control multiple traits in wild soybeans, including insect resistance and leaf growth. These findings can aid in the development of new domesticated soybean varieties with improved seed composition and nutritional traits.
Researchers suggest altering crop genomes to express pigments like anthocyanins and carotenoids, making them visually distinct from weeds. This approach could enable accurate discrimination using weeding robots trained with machine learning.
Research elucidates polyploidy's role in vegetable diversity and adaptability, shedding light on 'Darwin's abominable mystery' of angiosperm expansion. Advanced sequencing technologies reveal the potential for polyploidy to enhance crop yields and qualities, particularly in minor vegetable crops.
Recent research connects biological domestication to early food globalization, proposing a new conceptual framework that challenges traditional narratives. Archaeological investigations have shown that plant and animal domestication entailed a more gradual transition spanning thousands of years across extensive geographies.
A team of researchers decoded the origins and spread of the bottle gourd, a staple in ancient civilizations for over 10,000 years. The study mapped the genetic blueprint of 197 varieties, revealing its domestication in Southern Africa around 12,000 years ago.