scholarly journals Review of congruence between global crop wild relative hotspots and centres of crop origin/diversity

Author(s):  
Nigel Maxted ◽  
Holly Vincent

AbstractCrop wild relatives (CWR) are important sources of adaptive diversity for plant breeding programmes. This paper aims to investigate the extent to which the centres of crop origin/diversity are congruent with areas of high CWR diversity. We established the predicted potential CWR distributions for 1,425 CWR species related to 167 crops using 334,527 known distribution locations and generated a global CWR hotspot map. This was then compared to the centres of origin/diversity proposed by Vavilov (amended by Hawkes); Zeven and Zhukovsky’s mega gene centres, Harlan’s centres and non-centres of crop domestication; and crop domestication areas identified using current archaeological evidence proposed by Purugganan and Fuller. Greatest congruence between the global CWR hotspots and other concepts was found with the concept proposed by Vavilov and amended by Hawkes, but there remained significant differences between the CWR hotspots and Vavilov’s concept. This paper concludes that all four centre concepts reviewed have some overlap with CWR diversity but that Vavilov’s original concept has the closest geographic coincidence with CWR hotspots. With the benefit of significant additional global datasets to those used by Vavilov, we were able to suggest amendments to his concept, adding further centres based on CWR hotspots in west and east USA, West Africa, South-east Brazil and Australia. As a result of this study more precise targeting of CWR and crop landrace can be implemented in future, aiding global food and nutritional security.

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajeet Singh ◽  
Pradeep Kumar Dubey ◽  
Rajan Chaurasia ◽  
Rama Kant Dubey ◽  
Krishna Kumar Pandey ◽  
...  

Ensuring the food and nutritional demand of the ever-growing human population is a major sustainability challenge for humanity in this Anthropocene. The cultivation of climate resilient, adaptive and underutilized wild crops along with modern crop varieties is proposed as an innovative strategy for managing future agricultural production under the changing environmental conditions. Such underutilized and neglected wild crops have been recently projected by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations as ‘future smart crops’ as they are not only hardy, and resilient to changing climatic conditions, but also rich in nutrients. They need only minimal care and input, and therefore, they can be easily grown in degraded and nutrient-poor soil also. Moreover, they can be used for improving the adaptive traits of modern crops. The contribution of such neglected, and underutilized crops and their wild relatives to global food production is estimated to be around 115–120 billion US$ per annum. Therefore, the exploitation of such lesser utilized and yet to be used wild crops is highly significant for climate resilient agriculture and thereby providing a good quality of life to one and all. Here we provide four steps, namely: (i) exploring the unexplored, (ii) refining the unrefined traits, (iii) cultivating the uncultivated, and (iv) popularizing the unpopular for the sustainable utilization of such wild crops as a resilient strategy for ensuring food and nutritional security and also urge the timely adoption of suitable frameworks for the large-scale exploitation of such wild species for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.


Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 362 (6417) ◽  
pp. eaav0294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Pretty

Redesign of agricultural systems is essential to deliver optimum outcomes as ecological and economic conditions change. The combination of agricultural processes in which production is maintained or increased, while environmental outcomes are enhanced, is currently known as sustainable intensification (SI). SI aims to avoid the cultivation of more land, and thus avoid the loss of unfarmed habitats, but also aims to increase overall system performance without net environmental cost. For example, large changes are now beginning to occur to maximize biodiversity by means of integrated pest management, pasture and forage management, the incorporation of trees into agriculture, and irrigation management, and with small and patch systems. SI is central to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and to wider efforts to improve global food and nutritional security.


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (Special) ◽  
pp. 82-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
LV Subba Rao ◽  
RA Fiyaz ◽  
AK Jukanti ◽  
G Padmavathi ◽  
J Badri ◽  
...  

India is the second largest producer of rice in the world and it is the most important staple food grain. All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP) was initiated with objective of conducting multi-location trials to identify suitable genotypes of high yield potential along with appropriate crop management practices. Since its inception AICRIP contributed significantly in meeting the growing demand both within and outside India. Significant progress has been achieved through AICRIP in terms of varietal release thereby increasing the crop productivity and also meeting the food and nutritional security. This paper makes a sincere effort in bringing out the significant achievements/milestones achieved under the AICRIP program and also gives a few directions for widening the areas under AICRIP.


Author(s):  
Kavita Gururani ◽  
Salej Sood ◽  
Anil Kumar ◽  
Dinesh C. Joshi ◽  
Dinesh Pandey ◽  
...  

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Mei Han ◽  
Kwadwo N. Opoku ◽  
Nana A. B. Bissah ◽  
Tao Su

Solanum aethiopicum is a very important vegetable for both rural and urban communities in Africa. The crop is rich in both macro- and micronutrients compared with other vegetables and is suitable for ensuring food and nutritional security. It also possesses several medicinal properties and is currently employed in the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, cholera, uterine complaints as well as skin infections in humans. The crop is predominantly cultivated by traditional farmers and plays an important role in the subsistence and economy of poor farmers and consumers throughout the developing world. It also holds potential for dietary diversification, greater genetic biodiversity and sustainable production in Africa. Despite the numerous benefits the crop presents, it remains neglected and underutilized due to the world’s over-dependence on a few plant species, as well as the little attention in research and development it has received over the years. This review highlights the importance of S. aethiopicum, its role in crop diversification, reducing hidden hunger, the potential for nutritive and medicinal benefits, agricultural sustainability and future thrusts for breeding and genetic improvement of the plant species.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0234974
Author(s):  
Andhressa Araújo Fagundes ◽  
Tatiana Canuto Silva ◽  
Silvia Maria Voci ◽  
Fernanda dos Santos ◽  
Kiriaque Barra Ferreira Barbosa ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tigist Tadesse Shonte ◽  
Kebede W/Tsadik

Abstract Background: Wild plants are essential for increased dietary diversity; for food and nutritional security and as herbal remedies. Stinging nettle, Urtica species, is one of the 20 widely consumed wild plants with cultural importance index ranging from 0.5-1.26 CI in different countries. As in previously conducted wild plants ethnobotanical studies in Ethiopia, the present study reported for the first time the indigenous knowledge and consumer’s perspectives of stinging nettle (Urtica simensis) in the central and southeastern highlands of Oromia regional states of Ethiopia.Methods: Data was collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, key informant discussions, focus group discussions and tour-guided field observation in 13 districts of three zones (Arsi, Bale and North Shewa) of Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. Results: The local people gather, where women carries 69.2% of the responsibilities for collecting and cooking, stinging nettle in winter and spring season almost from everywhere with higher preference for road sides followed by homestead boundaries, waste land, field boundaries and agroforestry in order of importance. The factors limiting harvesting, consumption and marketing of stinging nettles could be ranked as cultural barriers (63.1%) > lack of knowledge (26.9%) > stinginess (10%). According to key informants, the local people who gather and cook stinging nettle are commonly referred as the poor and they call stinging nettle crop as a poor man crop. Interestingly, covering hands with cloths and wearing plastic bags were traditional manipulations practiced by the local community to protect themselves from stinging hairs thereby avoiding stinging sensation and collect the young and tender shoots from the plant. The highest use-value indices of stinging nettle plant was in North Shewa zone (UVc = 0.93), followed by Arsi zone (UVc = 0.9), and Bale zone (UVc = 0.63). Its central role in North Shewa (FL = 51.7%) and Arsi zone (FL = 50 %) is as a source of both food and fodder, where as in Bale zone (FL = 33.3%) is as a source of food only. In the study areas stinging nettle sauce is prepared by boiling young nettle leaves and roasted barley powder and then cooled sauce is served with injera. Conclusions: There exists biological security to livelihood of the people in the study areas by consuming stinging nettle to cope up times of food shortage. This result shed light on further research and a needs to popularize, awareness creation, the potential for domestication, value addition and processing for food and nutritional security and wellbeing of consumers.


Author(s):  
Krishna Avatar Meena ◽  
J.K. Gupta ◽  
R.K. Dular ◽  
B.K. Bhinchhar ◽  
R.K. Meena ◽  
...  

Background: Chickpea is an important legume crop that plays an important role in the food and nutritional security of people in the developing countries and contributing to protein intake. It is a soil building crop and being a leguminous crop, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic fixation, there by helps in N cycling within the ecosystem. Methods: Cluster front line demonstrations of chickpea were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kumher, Bharatpur (Rajasthan) during Rabi season from 2016-17 to 2019-20. A total 350 front line demonstrations were conducted on chickpea in 140 ha area by the active participation of the farmers with the objective of improved technologies of chickpea production potentials. Result: The results of the demonstrations observed that on an average yield of chickpea under improved technology ranged from 11.83 to 17.52 q/ha with a mean of 14.47 q/ha; which was 20.95 per cent more yield as compared to farmer’s practices (11.97 q/ha). Moreover, average yield was also recorded higher under demonstration (14.47 q/ha) over district (8.17 q/ha) and State (10.74 q/ha) average. The study exhibited mean extension gap of 250.75 Kg/ha, mean technology gap of 627.75 kg/ha with mean technology index of 29.71 per cent. Higher mean net return of Rs. 46618/ha with mean B: C ratio of 3.10 was obtained with improved technologies in comparison to farmers’ practices (Rs. 36737/ha). The present study resulted to convincing the farming community for higher productivity and returns.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-201
Author(s):  
S. Niassy ◽  
R. Musundire ◽  
S. Ekesi ◽  
A. van Huis

This special issue was organised in the context of the 22nd meeting of the Association of African Insect Scientists (AAIS), in Wad Medani, Sudan in 2017. The aim was to ‘support impactful research that will yield genuine edible insects products and sustain value chains that enhance food and nutritional security and support sustained livelihoods in Africa’. The issue is composed of contributions from the following countries: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. The issue attempted to strengthen the traditional inventory and perception studies and emphasise on contributions that explore entrepreneurial developments of insects use as food and livestock feed. The issue also looked at emerging R&D and innovations to enhance the use of insects to improve food and nutritional security and as a major sector in economic development in Africa.


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