Genetic diversity

March 28, 2013March 28, 2013

Nibbles: Agroforestry, Genomics conference, Weed propagation, Potato gene, Potato Bean, Seeds, Chilli breeding, University, Prize, Arroz etc, Sinai, Maple syrup, Raw milk, Cacao

It’s Easter. A bigger than usual haul to see you safely through the lean times ahead.

Simons says, plant a tree. And here’s how.
FAO had an e-conference on “Impacts of genomics and other ‘omics’ for the crop, forestry, livestock, fishery and agro-industry sectors in developing countries” and all I got was this pdf.
I personally think The Dude would prefer seeds.
That potato day-length gene paper deconstructed. A bit.
Owen’s ~~Potato bean~~ hopniss seeds have sprouted. Can a new variety be far away?
No doubt he’ll be contributing to a list of US seed suppliers for perennial veg.
There are perennial peppers, you know. A new weapon as the pepper breeding wars heat up?
And enthusiasm for Kerala Agricultural University cools down.
“Attention responsible gene stewards!” You had me at Attention. (But you lost me at responsible gene stewards.) On the other hand, if you are “diligent about developing or releasing durable varieties that will ensure long-term global wheat security” stick with it.
Arroz, trigo, maíz y patata. The usual story: Casi todos los esfuerzos de la Revolución Verde se han enfocado hacia la mejora de los denominados cultivos principales.
Farming in the Sinai is 5000 years older than it used to be.
How to get genuine maple syrup.
Raw milk is fine. No it’s not.
Nestle and Mars commit to equality for women cocoa farmers. Mondelēz has not yet responded to Oxfam-inspired consumer pressure. Perhaps because few people know they’re Cadbury and Suchard and Toberlone and … what’s with that stupid ē anyway?

Enjoy that Creme Egg!

March 27, 2013March 27, 2013

Nibbles: Ag research impact, Old foods, GMOs, Barcoding, Palms (well it is Easter), Medicinal plants, Passion fruits, Markets, Livestock, Chaffey, Wine and CC, Coffee culture

“…for many for many smallholder farmers little has changed over the decades in terms of the methods and tools they use.” Geoff Tansey would seem to agree. Nobody has told ACIAR, though.
Cherfas favourite spread bog butter among oldest food finds.
Why it is silly to say that GMOs are always bad.
The Star Trek tricorder-type DNA widget comes a step closer.
Which will make it easier to do things like working out the evolution of palms. Before it’s too late. Because of all that nasty agriculture. Anyway, read about it on page 3 of Kew Scientist, along with lots of other stuff.
Like the taxonomy of herbal medicine, for instance, which coincidentally also comes up in a newspaper article from Australia today. Maybe some of the plants involved will go into the Kimberly Ark, whatever that is.
Passion fruit is the next big thing in Costa Rica.
Colombian peasant organizations go to market. Including, I bet, with passion fruits.
Even in the struggle between man and steer, the issue is uncertain.
Is it time for Plant Cuttings again? Thank goodness.
I think I’ll read it with some Danish wine at my elbow. Or maybe Vietnamese coffee.

March 26, 2013March 26, 2013

Nibbles: Cucurbits, Climate change cuisine, Passover pulses, Quinoa grant, Sago network

The botanist in the kitchen takes on the diversity of squashes. And pumpkins. And some gourds. So we don’t have to.
Aren’t you glad we’re here to tell you that “Potato Beans” are Apios americana? Why do we even link to this stuff?
Split peas split Jewish communities. Because it allows us to have fun.
Like this: USDA grant condemns Bolivian peasants to eternal poverty but better nutrition.
I see your allegedly neglected crop and raise you a really neglected one.

March 25, 2013March 21, 2013

Brainfood: Coconut and climate, Cereal biofortification, Ancient tuber oat grass, Grape diversity, Shade cacao, Ancient Central Asian ag, Diversity of knowledge, Edible canna

Climate change and coconut plantations in India: Impacts and potential adaptation gains. Seems we don’t need to worry about coconut in India. Much. Overall.
Biofortification of cereals to overcome hidden hunger. Need to understand mineral uptake and transport mechanisms better. But once we do…
Evaluating prehistoric finds of Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum in north-western and central Europe with an emphasis on the first Neolithic finds in Northern Germany. May just have had a ritual role.
Genetic diversity and population structure assessed by SSR and SNP markers in a large germplasm collection of grape. High diversity despite duplication. Ecogeographic groupings within the cultivated material. Genetic core more genetically diverse than phenological core, though similarly phenotypically diverse. Information will revolutionize breeding. No, not really.
Shade Tree Diversity, Cocoa Pest Damage, Yield Compensating Inputs and Farmers’ Net Returns in West Africa. Best thing is to have a diverse shade canopy, but under 50%.
Agricultural production in the Central Asian mountains: Tuzusai, Kazakhstan (410‐150 b.c.). Yes, agriculture. Not just pastoralism.
Diversity of Plant Knowledge as an Adaptive Asset: A Case Study with Standing Rock Elders. Differences among individuals may be just that, rather than “lack of cultural consensus” and may be adaptive as circumstances change.
The Origin of Southeastern Asian Triploid Edible Canna (Canna discolor Lindl.) Revealed by Molecular Cytogenetical Study. C. indica var. indica and C. plurituberosa are the proud and newly-identified parents.

March 22, 2013

Nibbles: Leaflets, IFPRI and CGIAR reamed, Locusts, Whisky, Backpacks for Africa, Yield drops, Oca, Fishy rice

Speak French? Unaware? The Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research has leaflets for you.
Indian writer bites the hands that feeds him. Well, somebody had to.
Israeli eaters bite the pests that plague them.
Debunking the mystery of whisky, the bastards. A muckle more detail here.
Backpack Farm is in the news again. We still want to know, what’s in those backpacks, and how diverse are they.
So you’ve been growing corn (maize) continuously and your yields are dropping precipitously? Scientists: Now we know why!
Expert tells potato centre all about oca. Fact No. 1: it isn’t a potato.
“Rice-fish cultivation produces environmental services.” What, in addition to rice and fish? Praise be.