What is it about?

In this article we review the most important reproductive traits that characterize Mediterranean crops and how they have differentiated from their wild relatives through domestication and further breeding. We explain the different genetic processes involved. Hybridisation between crops and their wild relatives have played a very important role in determining the traits of current cultivars. In turn, gene flow from crops to wild relatives can potentially alter the characteristics of natural communities.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Plant evolution under domestication has not only changed the reproductive biology of cultivated taxa, its effects are multifaceted and have implications beyond agriculture. Gene flow between crops and their wild relatives are a key element to consider when assessing the effects of geneti modified organisms on the environment.

Perspectives

This article covers an interface between agronomy, evolutionary biology and environment that is really fascinating having great implications on many of the great issues that currently concern modern society.

Jose Iriondo
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Reproductive traits and evolutionary divergence between Mediterranean crops and their wild relatives, Plant Biology, October 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/plb.12640.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page