Breeding

April 8, 2011

FAO says crop wild relatives must be collected

Plant genetic material stored in gene banks should be screened with future requirements in mind. Additional plant genetic resources — including those from wild relatives of food crops — must be collected and studied because of the risk that they may disappear.

Climate-adapted crops — for example varieties of major cereals that are resistant to heat, drought, submergence and salty water — can be bred. FAO stressed however that this should be done in ways that respect breeders’ and farmers’ rights, in accordance with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.

That’s from FAO’s a submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change about a week ago. Can’t think how I missed it. Of course, there is some collecting work being planned now on crop wild relatives…

April 6, 2011April 6, 2011

More on the orange sweet potato story

The author of the orange-fleshed sweet potato paper I talked about a couple of days ago has kindly informed me that the answer to the question I posed is that the impact of the dissemination of these new varieties in Uganda has indeed been measured, but just hasn’t been published yet. There was apparently a big multidisciplinary study in 2007-2009 both in Uganda and Mozambique, and the results are due to come out in the near future. Good to hear, and many thanks, Robert. In the meantime, we have the following snippet from an IFPRI publication to whet our collective, er, appetite.

April 4, 2011April 4, 2011

Brainfood: Chia, Lentils, Bambara groundnut, Cacao, Amaranths, Rwanda, Cherimoya, Conservation, Drought, Plasticity, Phenology

Extending the range of an ancient crop, Salvia hispanica L.—a new ω3 source. So we can grow it in the US, natch.
Characterization of the lentil landrace Santo Stefano di Sessanio from Abruzzo, Italy. In the market, some are not what they claim to be; I’m shocked.
Genetic diversity in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) as revealed by phenotypic descriptors and DArT marker analysis. They’re pretty diverse, especially in Cameroon/Nigeria, which may be where they were domesticated.
Genetic diversity and spatial structure in a new distinct Theobroma cacao L. population in Bolivia. They’re different from other cacao populations, and probably indigenous to Bolivia.
Systematics and taxonomic delimitation of vegetable, grain and weed amaranths: a morphological and biochemical approach. Relationships? It’s complex.
First and second millennium a.d. agriculture in Rwanda: archaeobotanical finds and radiocarbon dates from seven sites. Earliest pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in the region, but do they really mean AD?
The use of consecutive micrografting improves micropropagation of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) cultivars. It does, what more can I tell you?
Social and ecological synergy: Local rulemaking, forest livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation. Big meta-analysis reveals complexity and the importance of participation by “local forest users.”

And here are a trio of rhyming couplets, if you see what I mean:

The relative importance of drought and other water-related constraints for major food crops in South Asian farming systems. Drought and water constraints are widespread in South Asia. Though they contribute no more than 20-30% of current yield gaps, investment in genetic solutions needs to continue. Alas, there are significant Challenges in breeding for yield increase for drought. Nothing that can’t be overcome, though.
Rethinking species’ ability to cope with rapid climate change. It’s the plasticity, stupid.
Meta-analyses suggest strong selection on flowering phenology both in plants in general and in chickpea in particular.

March 31, 2011March 31, 2011

Nibbles: Gardening, Seed Swap, Mapping, Animal Genebank, Rice, Seed Treay, Nanocellulose, Camels, Bread, food Security

Gardening is good for you. It’s official. And they didn’t even measure nutrition.
European seed swap in Brussels.
More fun for mappers; Training Kit on Participatory Spatial Information Management and Communication. h/t CAPRi
Australian animal genebank under threat.
Filipinos ♥ IRRI.
Big write up of Seed Treaty‘s recent Governing Body meeting in Bali.
Wired magazine goes nuts for bananas and other fruits as sources of better plastics.
Camelicious! The worlds first large-scale camel dairy farm.
Food strikes in ancient Egypt. They’ve been revolting for more than 3000 years.
Nice round-up of how indigenous communities in Colombia are protecting their food security.

March 30, 2011March 30, 2011

Secrets of Plant Genomes: Corn

A segment produced by the National Science Foundation in the US. Which means that by “corn” they mean “maize”.

Warning: May be too groovy for those of a nervous or academic disposition