- The biodiversity and genetic structure of Balearic sheep breeds. 5 types, pretty well differentiated among themselves, and very different to the mainland breeds.
- Exploration of genetic diversity within Cichorium endivia and Cichorium intybus with focus on the gene pool of industrial chicory. Species reasonably, though not completely, differentiated. C. intybus division into 3 phenotypic cultivar groups (Witloof, root chicory and leaf chicory) confirmed. Leaf chicory division into 3 phenotypic subgroups confirmed (Radicchio, Sugarloaf and Catalogne cultivars). Modern industrial root cultivars have high phenotypic and genetic variability.
- The genome of cultivated sweet potato contains Agrobacterium T-DNAs with expressed genes: An example of a naturally transgenic food crop. No doubt it will soon be banned in Europe.
- Distributions, ex situ conservation priorities, and genetic resource potential of crop wild relatives of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., I. series Batatas]. 79% of species identified as high priority for further collecting. None of them GMOs. Yucatan is the place to go to get bang for buck.
- Complementary effects of species and genetic diversity on productivity and stability of sown grasslands. Species diversity increased productivity under drought, regardless of number of genotypes per species present. Genotypic diversity increased temporal stability of production under both drought and non-drought conditions, regardless of number of species.
- Exploiting Nutritional Value of Staple Foods in the World’s Semi-Arid Areas: Risks, Benefits, Challenges and Opportunities of Sorghum. Unbalanced amino acid composition, cyanogenic glycosides and antinutrients are obstacles to increased consumption, but can be overcome by: reduction of worrisome components (or their activity), good practices to minimise contamination and compensation by varied diet.
- Nutritional and Health Implications of Conventional Agriculture — A review. Only agricultural biodiversity can save us.
- Pollination services from field-scale agricultural diversification may be context-dependent. Hedgerows may not always be good for both crop pollination and wild bee conservation.
- Morphological, Physiological and Molecular studies on wildly collected Cordyceps militaris from North West Himalayas, India. You can cultivate it.
- Olive biodiversity in Colombia. A molecular study of local germplasm. 5 of the genotypes could not be identified with known varieties.
- A phylogenetic analysis of 34 chloroplast genomes elucidates the relationships between wild and domestic species within the genus Citrus. 3 main clades: citron/Australian species, pummelo/micrantha and papeda/mandarins. Lots of heteroplasy. 4 genes showing positive selection.
Nibbles: Heirloom apples, Cowpeas, Lettuces, Livestock, Taste, Soil, Nutrition, Meat, Malaria tea, SIRGEALC, ABS
- Is “heritage” just “heirloom” for “birds and animals”? I for one don’t think so. These apples are heritage, for example.
- Saving the Sea Island Red Pea. Which is a heritage cowpea, I think.
- 43 different types of heritage lettuce illustrated.
- Eat those heirloom pigs or lose them.
- Taste and nutrition go hand in hand.
- Soils are part of traditional agricultural heirloom systems.
- Heirloom shmeirloom, those food systems need some work if they are to deliver nutrition.
- The case for meat, heirloom or otherwise. And a whole series of posts on how to best feed all those cows.
- A herbal tea against malaria.
- The 10th SIRGEALC is on the horizon.
- A lot of people going to that will probably need these resources on implementing both the International Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol at the same time.
Nibbles: Grazing, Saving foodways, Amaranth, Fortification, Avocado threats, Kew job, Coffee photos, PhyloLink, Nutrition & ag, Remote sensing
- Grazing is good for grassland.
- Saving British food. And that of Ghana too, why not?
- Amaranth the next superfood? Maybe, but I vote we ban that silly term.
- The case for fortification: diverse diets are just too hard.
- And the latest fruit that’s in trouble is…the avocado.
- Wanna “[s]pend your summer in lovely Kew Gardens interacting with the public and opening people’s eyes and noses to the delightful world of spices”?
- Photographing the soul of coffee.
- Atlas of Living Australia adds nifty phylogenetic thingie.
- World Bank says “agriculture has a unique and critical role in improving nutritional status” so it must be true.
- Protecting forests from the air.
Nibbles: SDGs, Seed book, Magic millets, Medieval diets, Obsessive botanist, Cocoa melting gene, Double sake, Simcock, CIMMYT double, Popular breeder, Georgian wine odyssey, Cinnamon vid, Yam bean factsheet, Jackfruit bandwagon, Prairie berries
- Agriculture and the SDGs in one nice infographic thingy.
- Seeds: The Book.
- Seeds like millets?
- Those medievals really knew how to eat.
- An obsessive botanist? Whatever next.
- Deconstructing chocolate, one gene at a time.
- Sake 101. And for a more in-depth look…
- Joseph Simcox, self-described “Internationally Renowned World Food Plant Resource Authority” takes you “on a World Adventure to learn about little known edible plants!” On Facebook.
- A journey into the heart of CIMMYT. They’ll even screen your maize for you.
- The people’s breeder.
- Tracing wine to its source: Georgia.
- Harvesting cinnamon. With video goodness.
- FAO unleashes its mighty comms machine on another poor neglected crop: yam bean. Not many people hurt.
- Watch out jackfruit, you’re probably next.
- Or maybe saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia).
Nibbles: Svalbard double, AgAtlas upgrade, Ornamental database, Wild apples, Genetic garden, Sandalwood trade, Amazon dams, Body bacteria, ICRISAT blog, African greens, Aquatic camel, Mujer empowerment
More of a proper catch-up Nibbles later, but these should hold you for a while.
- Le Figaro goes to Svalbard.
- But Wired goes into much more depth on the tragic situation in Syria.
- Many AgAtlas pages now include interactive mapping and data download, eg AEZ. About time :)
- Looking for information on varieties of ornamental plants? Look no further.
- Diversity in wild European apples: past, present and future.
- Genetic garden opens in Bangalore.
- The perils of sandalwood smuggling.
- Dam the Amazon, full speed ahead! What will happen to all that human body bacteria diversity?
- ICRISAT’s new DG has a blog. Looking forward to his first foray into the genebank.
- Lots of stuff on African traditional veggies in AVRDS’s latest newsletter.
- The swimming camels of Gujarat get protection. I’d pay money to see them, I really would.
- Patagonian women farmers are doing it for themselves, at last.