Klaus Ammann, hon. Prof. University of Bern, Switzerland Bellagio Rockefeller Foundation Seminar on Feral Crops April 26, 2004
Ideal weed characteristics (after Baker, 1974):
1.Germination requirements fulfilled in a broad range of habitats 2.Discontinuous germination (internally controlled) and great longevity of seeds 3.Rapid growth through vegetative phase to flowering 4.Continuous seed production for as long as growing conditions permit 5.Self-compatible but not completely autogamous or apomictic 6.When cross-pollinated, unspecialized visitors or wind-pollinated 7.Very high seed output under favourable environmental circumstances 8.Produces some seed in wide range of environmental conditions; tolerant and plastic 9.Adaptations for short- and long-distance dispersal 10.If a perennial, vigorous vegetative reproduction or regeneration from fragments 11.If a perennial, brittleness, so not easily drawn from ground 12.Ability to compete interspecifically by special means (rosette, choking growth, allelochemics Hammer, K., Arrowsmith, N., & Gladis, T. (2003) Agrobiodiversity with emphasis on plant genetic resources. Naturwissenschaften, 90, 241-250
Our results clearly show a very pronounced influence of especially the frequency of parents and hybrids on their fitness (Fig. 2): B. napus, B. rapa and backcross plants (F1 ♀ x B. rapa) set many more seeds in pure stands than in mixtures and more seeds in stands with high frequencies of themselves. F1 plants set many more seeds in mixtures and at low frequencies of itself.
Thure Hauser and Rikke Bagger Jørgensen Plant Environment Interactions Programme Development of three cultivated Brassica-species by species hybridization and allopolyploidization (haploid chromosome sets in red) (N. U, 1935; O. WINGE; 1917). The model could be confirmed by molecular analyses. Tested were the composition of a protein (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase) (M. B. ROBINS and J. G. VAUGHAM, 1983) and the structure of the respective gene (J. D. PALMER et al, 1983). Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase consists of a large (g) and a small (k) subunit. The different genotypes are marked 1 and 2 (blue). Brassica carinata, for example, contains the gene for the large subunit from Brassica nigra and that of the small subunit from Brassica oleracea. Additionally, genetic engineering was used. The scheme was supplemented by further species (more in: K. GLIMELIUS et al., 1991)
European hunters and gatherers 10‘000 years ago
Genetic 'signature'
Lounes Chikhi, from University College London (UCL), UK, and colleagues looked for this marker by analysing mutations (errors) on Y chromosomes, the bundles of DNA handed down from father to son. Computer analysis In particular, they studied rare mutations called unique event polymorphisms (UEPs). These are not thought to have occurred more than once in recent human history. The presence of UEPs in different populations is likely to indicate common ancestry rather than recurrent changes in gene structure. The research team took the results of a previous study and subjected them to a new computer-intensive technique. From this, the scientists estimate that Middle Eastern farmers contributed about 50% of the analysed genes to the modern European population.
Contributions ranged from 15-30% in France and Germany, to 85-100% in southeastern European countries such as Albania, Macedonia, and Greece.
These figures are much larger than previous ones, suggesting that the Middle Eastern contribution to European genetic heritage has been underestimated. 1. Gatherer-hunters Gathering, hunting and fishing are successful forms of subsistence economy. 99 percent of human history and 90 percent of all human individuals which ever lived belong to this stage. Gatherer-hunter cultures have become rare nowadays and are mainly found in remote areas under extreme conditions (like desert, rain forest, tundra, high mountains) which may not be representative for study. In earlier days gatherer-hunters did not live on the edge of existence minimum but were allowed to be selective. The influence on the environment was low, but always density-dependent. Social organization was already characterized by labour partition between man and women, group formation, and territoriality. 2. Shepherd nomads (transhumance) Shepherd nomads prefer non-settled keeping and breeding of cattle and other domestic ani-mals. They are specialized on areas with low or unpredictable precipitation. Here field agri-culture without irrigation can not be carried out on a long term. The exact time of origin is unknown. There is a greater social differentiation (craftsmen, tradesmen). The number of animals is correlated to the social prestige. Shephard nomads are often involved in conflicts with other cultures because of alledged envi-ronmental damage caused by migrating herds. 3. Tillage or arable farming (field and garden) To be found since 8,000-10,000 years in Persia and Palestine. The starting point is called the „Neolithic Revolution“. a.Extensive forms (mainly based on subsistence economy) - Shifting cultivation, a sequence of repeated clearing, burning, tillage, and migration - Garden hoed crop culture (using a hoe, spade stick or similar tools) b. Intensive forms (true stationary life form). Work is done for not removing the land (soil cultivation, fertilization, crop rotation). True arable farming was particularly dependent of the use of effective ploughs. It was accompanied by a surplus economy which lead to - labour partitioning between towns and countryside, - keeping of stationary armies, - highly differentiated social labour division into class and caste systems, - population growth. Further properties are - the idea of landownership, - the inheritance of land (as private property), -the idea of nuisant plants and animals (weeds, pests). 4. Agro-industrial agriculture. Nowadays food production is based on the utilization of fossile energy (1-3 are based on enewable resources). Since c. 1850 agriculture is dominated by use of - artificial fertilizers, pesticides, insectizides, fungicides, - fuel for agricultural machines including the energy for the production of the machines, - energy for transporting good (both input and output of production).
Shinden: Holy rice fields C, gods B came from mountains Man came from villages A
The Fertile Crescent, 9000-4500 BCE Present-day distribution of wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides
Triticum spelta Analysis of numbers of papers/mentions over time (Agricola database 1970-1996):
:
Source: AGRICOLA database (1970-1996) Common Name(s): spelt wheat www.hort.purdue.edu/.../ lecture14/fig_14-4.html
6080–6084 PNAS April 30, 2002 vol. 99 no. 9 A single domestication for maize shown by multilocus microsatellite genotyping Yoshihiro Matsuoka*†, Yves Vigouroux*, Major M. Goodman‡, J esus Sanchez G.§, Edward Buckler¶, and John Doebley*
http://www.cec.org/files/pdf//Vaughan-e.pdf
Great variety of chromosomal structures show that geneflow is not destabilizing the genomes of maize and teosinte Kato: Review of introgression between maize and teosinte
Swiss landrace of maize from Thusis, Graubünden, Eastern Switzerland
Poisoned fields: A contributor to collapse
Mashkan-shapir was a typical Mesopotamian city, located about 20 miles from the Tigris River and connected to the river by a network of canals. Despite a flourishing civilization, Mashkan- shapir was abandoned within only 20 years of its settlement. What could have caused this rapid demise?
Along with factors such as war and changes in the environment, scientists now believe irrigation techniques played an important role in Mashkan-shapir's collapse. The same process that allowed farming in this region also eventually made it impossible to farm. Irrigation has a Catch-22: if irrigation water is allowed to sit on the fields and evaporate, it leaves behind mineral salts; if attempts are made to drain off irrigation water and it flows through the soil too quickly, erosion becomes a problem.
Deutschewitz, K., Lausch, A., Kuhn, I., & Klotz, S. (2003) Native and alien plant species richness in relation to spatial heterogeneity on a regional scale in Germany. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 12, 299-311
www.nau.edu/~qsp/ macrobotanical_lab.html Ken Cole demonstrates proper midden analysis procedures www.nau.edu/~qsp/ macrobotanical_lab.html Sandra Swift purifies midden plant matrix through hydroclensing FIGURES 5-15. Plant macrofossils from late- Pleistocene Matianuck Avenue site (Connecticut), representing species present (5-10) and absent (11-15) from the contemporary alpine flora of the White Mountains: 5, 6, Harrimanella hypnoides, 5, branch with leaves, 6, capsule; 7-10, Salix uva-ursi, four different leaves; 11-13, S. reticulata, three different leaves; 14, 15, Thalictrum alpinum, two achenes. (All scale bars 1 mm.)
http://www.erudit.org/revue/gpq/1999/v53/n1/004854ar.html Harrimanella hypnoides Padulosi, S., Hammer, K., & Heller, J.e. (1995) 4. Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Hulled Wheats © CAB ABSTRACTS, CAB International, Castelvecchio Pascoli, Tuscany, Italy, IS: 92-9043-288-8, pp 262 http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pdf/54.pdf
DISCOVERY OF RICE PHYTOLITHS IN THE NEOLITHIC SITE AT JIAHU OF HENAN PROVINCE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE CHEN Baozhang , (Regional Development Institute of Xuzhou Normal University, Xuzhou 221009, China) ZHANG Juzhong (Cultural Relic Institute of Henan Province, Zhengzou 450004, China) LU Houyuan 2 Results Three types of phytoliths belong to Oryza. They are fan-shaped, dumbbell-shaped parallel to each other along the long axes, and phytoliths from caryopses (9). Some fan-shaped phytoliths from leaves and dumbbell-shaped phytoliths occur in the 9 samples, and many phytoliths from caryopses are in samples Jh2, Jh3, Jh6 and Jh 9 (Fig. 2). Fig. 2. Photographs of phytoliths. a, Fan-shaped phytolith from sample Jh6, x 1000; b, d, fan-shaped phytoliths from sample Jh6, x 800; c, fan-shaped phytolith from sample Jh9, x 800; e, fan-shaped phytolith from Oryza rufipogon Griff. (produced in Dongxiang of Jiangxi Province), x 800; f, fan-shaped phytolith from sample Jh2, x 800; g, i, phytoliths in caryopses from sample Jh2, x 400; h, dumbbell phytolith from sample Jh2, x 400; j, phytolith in caryopses from sample Jh6, x 400; k, dumbbell phytolith from 0. rufipogon Griff. (produced in Jiangxi), x 400; 1, m, phytolith in caryopses of 0. sativa keng Ting (0. s. japonica) (breed: Balila), x 400. IDENTIFICATION
Many plants don't produce phytoliths: only a partial indication of plants in area Non-related species produce the same types : "dumbbells, saddles, bowls, boats, bottoms" Some Taxonomic categories can be recognized: panicoid, festucoid, chloroid A few forms are diagnostic to species level: e.g., maize
Triticum phytolith
Differencesthe frequency in of genedispersalfrom lineto lineandfrom yearto year Jonathan Jonathan Gressel Yolande Jacot G ene dispersal into ene dispersal 0,08 0,06 0,04 0,02 0,1 1* , Klaus , Klaus Ammann 0 4 , Iñigo Loureiro Iñigo
S. viridis S. Trsu
Arsu , Millet , 1 , Pia Pia Rufener , MazyadAl 2 ,
Haibo Haibo Wang Srsu sampled within the 20 m plot 20 the within sampled TRsp 5 , Elena Elena Benavente , ARsp
1 SRsp , Cristina Chueca Chueca Cristina , 1999 2001 6 2 , Jacques David David , Jacques 2001 2000 1999 3 , Herbarium Collections: Data on hybrids over decades Field release of transgenic crops in Switzerland an ecological risk assessment of vertical gene flow Klaus Ammann, University of Bern 1 Yolande Jacot, University of Neuchâtel 2 Pia Rufener Al Mazyad, University of Bern 1
1 Botanical Garden, Altenbergrain 21, CH - 3013 BERN 2 Institut de Botanique, Chantemerle 22, CH - 2007 NEUCHATEL
Kapitel 3 in:
Elisabeth Schulte und Othmar Käppeli (Hrsg.) 1996 ISBN 3-9521113-0-9 Dutch - Swiss Method of assessing three gene flow codes
Ruud van der Mejiden, Willem Brandenburg, Femke Frietema Yolande Jacot, Pia Rufener AL Mazyad, François Felber, Roberto Guadagnolo, Dessislava Savova
Method not using transgene crops, i.e. respecting the Precautionary Approach Potential Risk of Gene Flow to wild relatives for 19 Swiss crops: Ae. squarrosa / T. aestivum
Aegilops squarrosa Wheat Hybrid in field Ae. squarrosa / T. aestivum
• Aegilops squarrosa : + • Triticum aestivum : ο Ae. ovata / T. aestivum
Aegilops ovata Wheat Ae. ovata / T. aestivum
Hybrids Ae. ovata / T. aestivum
• Ae.ovata : ▽ • T. aestivum : ο • Ae.triticoides (F1): ■ • Ae.speltaeforme( BC) : ● • Ae. triticoides (F2) : ⊠ Julia Keller Senften: Lactuca serriola Principal Component Plot of
Conserving and increasing the Use of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species Monographs & Publications
Part of the listed publications is a series of monographs which is the result of a joint project between the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) and the Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK).
The financial support has been provided by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany through the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy through the Department of Cooperation for Development. This series of monographs intends to contribute to improving the potential value of these crops through increased use of the available genetic diversity. http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/Nus/pubs/list.asp Authors: M. Andean roots and tubers: Ahipa, arracacha, maca and Hermann, J. Heller yacon (eds.) year: 1997 At least 25 species of root and tuber crops from 16 genera and 15 families are native to South America. Apart from the 7 species of potato (Solanum spp.), there are nine lesser known species native to the Andes that are grown for their edible underground organs and are traditionally, but not exclusively, cultivated by indigenous people who use them for subsistence or as cash crops. This book is the first of two volumes to deal in depth with the biology and genetic resources of these Andean root and tuber crops, and, following an introduction, is divided into 4 multiauthor sections: (1) ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa) by M. Sorensen, W. J. Gruneberg and B. Orting; (2) arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) by M. Hermann; (3) maca (Lepidium meyenii) by C. F. Quiros and R. Aliaga Cardenas; and yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) by A. Grau and J. Rea. Each section follows the standard format for the series and reviews aspects of their taxonomy, botany, origin, ecology, properties, uses, conservation, evaluation of diversity and breeding. In addition, full accounts are given of crop production areas, agronomy, limitations, prospects and research needs. A single appendix lists research workers by country. Selection of the IPGRI database:
Aibika/Bele Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik.
Cultivated extensively in the lowlands of Melanesia, aibika is one of the highest yielding leafy vegetables, and is nutritious and easy to grow. This monograph reviews its taxonomy, origin, uses, genetic resources, ecology, agronomy, reproductive biology, crop protection, breeding and research needs. Appendices listing a basic descriptor list, details of the Papua New Guinea collection, insects found aibika in Pacific Island countries and research contacts are included. Stephen R. Proeston 1998 Bambara groundnut Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. A u t h o Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 9.) r s Proceedings of the workshop on Conservation and Improvement of Bambara : Groundnut J . 14-16 November 1995, Harare, Zimbabwe H Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is an indigenous African crop that has been cultivated for centuries from Senegal to Kenya, e and from the Sahara to South Africa and Madagascar. Despite its drought tolerant properties, bambara groundnut has largely been l l ignored by the scientific community being regarded as a poor man's crop. This workshop represents an effort to coordinate efforts e across Africa aimed at the conservation of genetic resources of V. subterranea and its development as a crop. Following a brief r introduction and a bibliographical review, country reports are presented from 11 African countries detailing production, genetic , resources and potential for breeding. These are followed by 6 papers each in two sections on agronomy and genetic resources, the F recommendations of working groups and a report on the establishment of the International Bambara Groundnut Network. Four . appendices include the workshop programme, a list of participants, addresses of bambara groundnut researchers, and institutions maintaining collections. B e g © CAB ABSTRACTS, CAB International e m a n n ,
J .
M u s h o n g a
( e d s . ) Black nightshades Solanum nigrum L. and related species
Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 15. Authors: Jennifer M. Edmonds, James A. Chweya Year: 1997
The black nightshades (Solanum nigrum and related species in sect. Solanum) are worldwide weeds of arable land, gardens, rubbish tips, soils rich in nitrogen, in moderately light and warm situations which occur from sea to montane levels. They are, however, also widely used as leafy herbs and vegetables, as a source of fruit and for various medicinal purposes. Therefore, human consumption of their leaves and fruits as food is widespread, particularly in Africa and SE Asia. Unfortunately, there is widespread confusion over the precise identification of the taxa involved, especially in those areas in which the species are most commonly used as food sources. This monograph attempts to identify the species related to the black nightshade more accurately, by providing an identification key, descriptions of the taxa most widely reported to be of dietary and/or ethnobotanical use in various Asian, African and Indonesian countries, listing some of the many vernacular names used for the species, recording precise uses of the various species and presenting some information on their genetic resources. Two appendices are included listing (1) research contacts and centres of research, and (2) gene banks maintaining collections.
© CAB ABSTRACTS, CAB International Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg
Despite its widespread distribution and use, little work has been done on characterization, evaluation and description of breadfruit germplasm. This publication describes the genetic resources of breadfruit and provides an in-depth look at the current status of breadfruit conservation and the extent of ex situ germplasm collections, especially in the Pacific Islands. Chapters cover the following topics: taxonomy, botany, evolution and domestication, properties and uses, conservation and genetic diversity, breeding, production, ecology, agronomy, and limitations, prospects and research needs. Two appendices detail research contacts and research centres, both by country.© CAB ABSTRACTS, CAB International Authors: Diane Ragone Year: 1997 Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentus Moench
Following a general account of the crop, including importance and distribution, physiology, diseases, genetics and breeding, and the need for unconventional breeding methods, information is reviewed on in vitro methods, including the composition of culture media, establishment of callus culture, organogenesis, plant regeneration and transfer, culture of apical buds, protoplast culture, genetic stability in callus and plants, and biochemical studies using in vitro systems.© CAB ABSTRACTS, CAB International Authors: Clayton G. Campbell Year: 1997 1878 1913
Fagopyrum esculentum: Cultivation 1878 – 1913: no big difference
Chenopods Chenopodium spp. The cultivation of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) in the Americas is widespread and well researched. It is less well known that Chenopodium was a common component of farming systems in the hilly and mountainous regions of Asia, particularly the Himalayas, the Hangduan mountains and the chain of uplands extending beyond the eastern fringes of the Himalayas as far as Taiwan. Replacement by high yielding varieties of staple crops has led to a decline in their cultivation. With a shift in focus towards production on agriculturally marginal lands, particularly mountainous regions, Chenopodium has a role to play both as a nutritious food crop and as a cash crop. Chenopodium has a high grain protein content, compared with cereals, is able to survive and compete in intercropping systems and forms mycorrhizal associations which maximise their use of scarce nutrients. This monograph describes the genetic resources of Chenopodium under the chapter headings: introduction; history of chenopods in Asia; the chenopod farmers and farming; crop genetic resources: the chenopod landraces; reproductive system and breeding features; phenological and ecophysiological variation; promising features of chenopods; genetic resources conservation efforts; evaluation of genetic variability; introduction of quinoa in Asia; limitations of the crop; and research priorities for chenopod. An appendix lists institutions, professionals and others associated with Chenopodium crop conservation, research and development. © CAB ABSTRACTS, CAB International Authors: Tej Partap, B.D. Joshi, N.W. Galwey Year: 1998 Pisum sativum, Garden Pea
Pisum sativum, Origin red and distribution green
Sediment samples from the Early Bronze Age settlement Hirbet ez-Zeraqon, Northern Jordan, ca. 8 ha in size, were analysed for seed remains since 1996 in the archaeobotanical laboratory of the University of Tübingen. Emmer, barley and lentil are the main crops. http://homepages.uni-tuebingen.de/simone.riehl/archbot.htm