Thursday Lecture – Origin of
Agriculture, continued
- Geographical origin of plant crops
- Changes under domestication
Assignment #3
List 5 plant foods that you have consumed this week (they may
be foods that consist entirely of the plant; or foods that contain
the plant as one of the ingredients). Prepare a one page world
map that is labeled to show where each plant food originated
(use Table 2.1 of your textbook as your source of information)
Due Date: Tuesday 2/1
Can Be Returned as Hard Copy or File Attachment to
e-mail message
1. Briefly explain the myth regarding Persephone, Demeter,
Pluto and the pomegranate. How does it relate to
agriculture?
2. Where and when did agriculture begin?
3. Who was Nikolai Vavilov?
Geological Time Scale
Geological Time Scale
Where did agriculture originate?
• 4-5+ Centers
North America
Near East
Mexico
South
America
Southeast
Asia
Sub-sahara Africa
What types of plants were utilized in early agriculture?
• Cereals – Members of the Grass Family Poaceae
• Near East:
• Far East:
• Subsaharan Africa:
• Mexico
• South America
What types of plants were utilized in early agriculture?
• Cereals
• Near East:
Barley, Wheat
• Far East:
Rice
• Subsaharan Africa:
Millets
• Mexico
Corn
• South America
Acquired Corn
What types of plants were utilized in early agriculture?
• Legumes – members of pea family Fabaceae
• Near East:
• Far East:
• Subsaharan Africa:
• Mexico
• South America
What types of plants were utilized in early agriculture?
• Legumes
• Near East:
Peas, Lentils
• Far East:
Soybeans, Mung Bean
• Subsaharan Africa:
Cowpeas (black-eyed peas); Vetch
• Mexico
Common Bean
• South America
Common Bean, Lima Bean, Peanut
What types of plants were utilized in early agriculture?
• Starchy Staples – members of various families
• Near East:
• Far East:
• Subsaharan Africa:
• Mexico
• South America
What types of plants were utilized in early agriculture?
• Starchy Staples
• Near East:
Dates
• Far East:
Banana, Taro, Breadfruit
• Subsaharan Africa:
Yams
• Mexico
Sweet Potato
• South America
Potatoes, Manioc
Did agriculture have a single origin?
• Criteria to evaluate:
• crops utilized
• methods of cultivation
• temporal considerations
Did agriculture have a single origin?
• Criteria to evaluate:
• crops utilized
• methods of cultivation
• temporal considerations
• Hypothesis 1: idea of agriculture so distinctive that it
probably originated just once - humans carried it around the
world, e.g. on long oceanic voyages (not recorded historically)
a la Thor Heyerdahl
Did agriculture have a single origin?
• Criteria to evaluate:
• crops utilized
• methods of cultivation
• temporal considerations
• Hypothesis 1: idea of agriculture so distinctive that it
probably originated just once - humans carried it around the
world, e.g. on long oceanic voyages (not recorded historically)
a la Thor Heyerdahl
• Hypothesis 2: differences in plants and methods of
cultivation  most likely that agriculture was invented
independently in different areas
Alternative Views – Origin of
Agriculture
“Classical View” – sudden, dramatic event; requires explanation
-
raises issue of single vs. multiple origins
New View (Box 2.1, text) – gradual transition
-
issue of origin less significant
Major Points:
1. Once adopted, agriculture stayed with culture
2. Agriculture adopted in various parts of the world, with
differing sets of plants
What are the consequences for people of origin of
agriculture?
• Cities
What are the consequences for people of origin of
agriculture?
• Cities
• Civilization, associated with need to keep track of events
(possibly stimulated development of writing)
What are the consequences for people of origin of
agriculture?
• Cities
• Civilization, associated with need to keep track of events
(possibly stimulated development of writing)
• increased population size
What are the consequences for people of origin of
agriculture?
• Cities
• Civilization, associated with need to keep track of events
(possibly stimulated development of writing)
• increased population size
• did not eliminate hunger
Nikolai Vavilov –
Scientific
Contributions
- Russian/Soviet scientist (1887-1943)
- Institutional Leader – “All Union Institute of Plant Industry”:
Nikolai Vavilov –
Scientific
Contributions
- Russian/Soviet scientist (1887-1943)
- Institutional Leader – “All Union Institute of Plant Industry”:
staff of 20,000 in 400 research laboratories; 160,000 plant/seed
samples
Nikolai Vavilov –
Scientific
Contributions
- Russian/Soviet scientist (1887-1943)
- Institutional Leader – “All Union Institute of Plant Industry”:
staff of 20,000 in 400 research laboratories; 160,000 plant/seed
samples
- “Centers of Origin of Cultivated Plants” (Book - 1926)
Novel approach to biogeography – center of diversity = center
of origin
Nikolai Vavilov –
Scientific
Contributions
- Russian/Soviet scientist (1887-1943)
- Institutional Leader – “All Union Institute of Plant Industry”:
staff of 20,000 in 400 research laboratories; 160,000 plant/seed
samples
- “Centers of Origin of Cultivated Plants” (Book - 1926)
Novel approach to biogeography – center of diversity = center
of origin
- Law of Homologous Series of Variation (paper - 1920)
The Lysenko Affair
T. D. Lysenko – Russian/Soviet Plant Breeder
(1989-1976)
The Lysenko Affair
T. D. Lysenko – Russian/Soviet Plant Breeder
(1989-1976)
- Discovery of “vernalization” (induction of
early flowering in biennial crops through use of
cold treatment)
The Lysenko Affair
T. D. Lysenko – Russian/Soviet Plant Breeder
(1989-1976)
- Discovery of “vernalization” (induction of
early flowering in biennial crops through use of
cold treatment)
- Renunciation of “Darwinian Evolution” in
favor of a Lamarckian-type explanation
The Lysenko Affair
T. D. Lysenko – Russian/Soviet Plant Breeder
(1989-1976)
- Discovery of “vernalization” (induction of
early flowering in biennial crops through use of
cold treatment)
- Renunciation of “Darwinian Evolution” in
favor of a Lamarckian-type explanation
- Ascension to political power (“dictator of
science” under Stalin); misuse of science to
support socio-political philosophy
The Lysenko Affair
T. D. Lysenko – Russian/Soviet Plant Breeder
(1989-1976)
- Discovery of “vernalization” (induction of
early flowering in biennial crops through use of
cold treatment)
- Renunciation of “Darwinian Evolution” in
favor of a Lamarckian-type explanation
- Ascension to political power (“dictator of
science” under Stalin); misuse of science to
support socio-political philosophy
- Falsification of experimental results
- Suppression of science/scientists
Vavilov vs. Lysenko
Vavilov
Lysenko
- broadly trained scientist
- narrowly trained agronomist
Vavilov vs. Lysenko
Vavilov
Lysenko
- broadly trained scientist
- narrowly trained agronomist
- spoke/read 12 languages
- spoke/read Russian only
Vavilov vs. Lysenko
Vavilov
Lysenko
- broadly trained scientist
- narrowly trained agronomist
- spoke/read 12 languages
- spoke/read Russian only
- traveled around world
- never left Russia
Vavilov vs. Lysenko
Vavilov
Lysenko
- broadly trained scientist
- narrowly trained agronomist
- spoke/read 12 languages
- spoke/read Russian only
- traveled around world
- never left Russia
- embraced and added to
scientific advances, including
Mendelian genetics and
Darwinian evolution
- rejected scientific advances,
especially Mendelian
genetics and Darwinian
evolution
Vavilov vs. Lysenko
Vavilov
Lysenko
- broadly trained scientist
- narrowly trained agronomist
- spoke/read 12 languages
- spoke/read Russian only
- traveled around world
- never left Russia
- embraced and added to
scientific advances, including
Mendelian genetics and
Darwinian evolution
- rejected scientific advances,
especially Mendelian
genetics and Darwinian
evolution
- major contributions to
agriculture in Russia
- inadvertantly damaged
Russian agricultural system
through poor policies
Vavilov vs. Lysenko
Vavilov
Lysenko
- broadly trained scientist
- narrowly trained agronomist
- spoke/read 12 languages
- spoke/read Russian only
- traveled around world
- never left Russia
- embraced and added to
scientific advances, including
Mendelian genetics and
Darwinian evolution
- rejected scientific advances,
especially Mendelian
genetics and Darwinian
evolution
- major contributions to
agriculture in Russia
- inadvertantly damaged
Russian agricultural system
through poor policies
- died in prison, 1943
- forced out in 1950s
Changes under Domestication
“Law of Homologous Series” –> similar changes in different
species
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
• loss of natural means of dispersal
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
• loss of natural means of dispersal
• loss of delayed and irregular germination of seeds
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
• loss of natural means of dispersal
• loss of delayed and irregular germination of seeds
• simultaneous ripening
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
• loss of natural means of dispersal
• loss of delayed and irregular germination of seeds
• simultaneous ripening
• loss of toxic or bitter substances
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
• loss of natural means of dispersal
• loss of delayed and irregular germination of seeds
• simultaneous ripening
• loss of toxic or bitter substances
• loss of mechanical means of protection
Changes under Domestication
• larger size of organs being utilized (fruits, seeds)
• loss of natural means of dispersal
• loss of delayed and irregular germination of seeds
• simultaneous ripening
• loss of toxic or bitter substances
• loss of mechanical means of protection
• change in color of fruits and seeds
What is a Fruit?
Fruit = mature ovary (for a botanist)
What is a Fruit, continued
Fruit = mature ovary (for a botanist)
Fruits are Fruits
What is a Fruit, continued
Fruit = mature ovary (for a botanist)
Fruits are Fruits
Nuts are Fruits
What is a Fruit, continued
Fruit = mature ovary (for a botanist)
Fruits are Fruits
Nuts are Fruits
Grains are Fruits
What is a Fruit, continued
Fruit = mature ovary (for a botanist)
Fruits are Fruits
Nuts are Fruits
Grains are Fruits
Some Vegetables are Fruits
What is a Fruit, continued
Fruit = mature ovary (for a botanist)
Fruits are Fruits
Nuts are Fruits
Grains are Fruits
Some Vegetables are Fruits
Some Botanists are Nuts?
Vegetable Fruits and Meaty Nuts
Vegetable Fruits and Meaty Nuts
Vegetable Fruits and Meaty Nuts
Vegetable Fruits and Meaty Nuts
Vegetable Fruits and Meaty Nuts
Flowers to Fruits
Flowers to Fruits
Flowers to Fruits
Ovary (in flower)
With ovule
Flowers to Fruits
Ovary (in flower)
With ovules
Flowers to Fruits
Fruit (with 1 seed )
Ovary (in flower)
With ovules
Flowers to Fruits
Fruit (with 1+ seeds)
Ovary (in flower)
With ovules
Fruit Types
Major Distinctions:
See Table 3.1, p. 54
- dry vs. fleshy
Also Fig. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
pages 56-57
- dehiscent vs. indehiscent
- product of 1 ovary vs. 2+ ovaries
- product of 1 flower vs. multiple flowers
Pericarp – fruit wall
- endocarp (inside)
- mesocarp (middle)
- exocarp (outside)
Dry, Indehiscent Fruits – Achene, Grain
Achene – 1-seeded, fruit and seed wall separate
Grain – 1-seeded, fruit and seed wall fused Chapter 5
Dry Indehiscent Fruits - Nut
Nut – 1 seeded, enclosed by hard pericarp, surrounded by “husk”
See Figs. 3.15, 3.16, pages 70-71
Dry, Dehiscent Fruits – Follicle
Follicle – from simple ovary, splits along 1 seam only
See Figs. 3.4, p. 58
Spiraea Fruits
milkweed
Dry, Dehiscent Fruits - Legume
Legume – from simple ovary, splits along 2 seams
Fruit of Fabaceae, only: beans, peas, lentils etc.
Chapter 6
Fleshy Fruits from 1 Ovary - Berry
Berry – multiple seeds, embedded in fleshy pulp
Special types of Berries
Hesperidium – flesh = juicePepo – hard rind filled hairs
Pome – most of
flesh = hypanthium