What are crop wild relatives and why are they important? Wild crop relatives are related to cultivated domestic plants, and some are thought to be ancestors of plants such as barley, wheat, rye, oats, quinoa and rice.
Many familiar vegetables such as asparagus, squash, carrots, garlic and spinach also have wild relatives. In fact, most domestic plants have at least one wild relative.
Crop wild relatives often don’t taste as good as domestic crops, and they may not appear as appetizing. However, they have traits that make them important. Let’s learn more about the usefulness of crop wild relatives.
Importance of Crop Wild Relatives
Why are crop wild relatives important? Because they continue to evolve in the wild, crop wild relatives are able to develop beneficial traits such as hardiness, drought tolerance and pest resistance.
Crops wild relatives are important for maintaining a healthy environment. They may be critical for maintaining or improving food security in areas where agriculture is increasingly challenged by global climate change. Scientists believe that crop wild relatives are hardy and more adaptable to higher temperatures, floods, and droughts. They also provide a great deal of genetic diversity.
Many of the plants, in their wild state, are valuable sources of fruit, tubers and seeds. They are also grazed by wildlife and livestock.
Additional Crop Wild Relative Info
Organizations such as the Crop Science Society of America and Biodiversity International are dedicated to collecting and preserving seeds, as many crop wild relatives are threatened by loss of cropland due to population growth, overgrazing and deforestation.
The hope is that by storing seeds in seed banks, crop wild relative plants will be maintained well into the future. However, many are already extinct, or are nearing extinction.
The seeds are also shared with growers who are interested in participating in the program. Many will breed the plants with domestic plants to produce stronger varieties. Others may grow the seeds near domestic plants so they will cross via natural means.
-
4 Winter Composting Shortcuts To Fill Garden Beds In Time For Spring PlantingDiscover quick, clever winter composting techniques to prep your garden beds and pots for spring planting. Reduce waste, enrich soil, and save time.
-
Foraging Flowers: How To Forage Floral Plants – And Which Flowers You Can Pick For Free Edibles!It’s fun to forage flowers, but it’s important to know the rules. Avoid areas that have been sprayed, beware of imposters and take only what you need.
-
How Many Vegetables To Plant Per Person For A YearGauging how much to plant in a vegetable garden can eliminate waste while still producing enough for your family. Click for more.
-
13 Perennial Fruits And Vegetables You Only Have To Plant OnceLooking to set it and forget it? Find out which fruits and vegetables can be grown as perennials.
-
11 Edible Plants For A Year-Round Garden In A BucketWant to know how to grow food inside your house and which foods do best indoors? Click here to learn all about it.
-
Frost Tolerance Of Vegetables From Least To Most HardyHow cold can vegetables tolerate? Knowing which veggies will survive frosts and freezes is essential for the success of your garden. Click here for more.
-
Best Vegetables To Pickle Straight From The GardenPickles aren’t limited to just cucumbers. Read on for tips on pickling your fresh veggies.
-
Benefits Of Planting In Fall Vs. Spring Vegetable PlotsLearn why some vegetables do better if you plant them in fall instead of spring.
-
Interplanting Vegetables In The Fall GardenLearn all about the benefits of interplanting vegetables for your fall garden.
-
Best Vegetables For Growing In PerlitePerlite is a natural growing medium that comes from super-heated volcanic glass. In some cases, it works better than soil. Read on for more info.
