Plant Genetic Resources and Domestication

Andrew Lowe | Patricia Fuentes-Cross

Human utilization of plants for sustenance has resulted in the domestication of a small number of plant families of high economic importance. With increasing human population, relying on this limited range of plant diversity for food will in the long term be unsustainable as these narrow genetic selections will cause them to be more vulnerable to diseases and pests. Research on alternative forms of plant management is crucial to preserve and increase plant genetic diversity and studying crop evolutionary processes will assist understanding the impact of their weedy relatives.

We are working on collection and conservation of genetic diversity of crop resources by researching the potential from native plants, local landraces, wild relatives of crops and the potential of in situ conservation of traditional forms of plant management that preserve the landscape. With an interdisciplinary approach, this research effort seeks to study histories of plant introductions and crop evolution with methodologies across disciplines, including molecular biology, paleobotany, and archaeology.

Current Research Projects

Plant domestication offers a good opportunity to study evolutionary processes under climatic shift by looking at the pace at which plants respond to human-mediated management, the evolutionary dynamics and overall impact of this process over the landscape. The Oceania-Pacific region has an array of plants under human management dating back thousands of years, some of which we still rely on today. Crops of cultural significance in Southeast Asia, New Guinea and the Pacific have possible significance in ancient Australia, hence tracing their histories can elucidate questions regarding genetic diversity, population bottlenecks and selection. Recent integrative research in archaeobotany and molecular biology on model crops are revisiting hypotheses regarding the "domestication syndrome," an important aspect in evolutionary research. Currently this project is investigating the histories of tuberous crop species, including Ipomoea spp., Dioscorea spp., Colocasia spp., Cassava spp., and the change in vegetation histories in the sediment record using archaeobotany, molecular genetics, and biogeography. The aim is to trace their histories and path of introduction into Australia.

Funding:
Lowe AJ et al (2002-2004) Developing know-how for the improvement and sustainable management of teak genetic resources, TEAKDIV. EU-FP5 contract (€1.25 M; £200,000 to my group).

Relevant  publications:

Pauku Rl, Lowe AJ, Leakey RRB (2010) Domestication of indigenous fruit and nut trees for agroforestry in the Solomon Islands. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods 19: 269-287.

Jamnadass R, Lowe AJ, Dawson IK (2009) Molecular markers and the management of tropical trees: the case of indigenous fruits. Tropical Plant Biology 2: 1-12.

Hardner C, Peace C, Lowe AJ, et al. (2009) Genetic Resources and Domestication of Macadamia. Horticultural Reviews.35: 1-125.

Leakey, R; Lowe, A, and 62 others. (2009) Impacts of AKST on development and sustainability goals. In: International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development: Global Report. Chapter 3. (Eds. B.D. McIntyre, H. Herren, J. Wakhungu and R. Watson). Island Press, New York, USA.

Cavers S, Navarro C, Lowe AJ (2004) Targeting genetic resource conservation in widespread species: a case study of Cedrela odorata L. Forest Ecology and Management. 197: 285-294.

Lowe AJ, et al. (2000) Conservation genetics of bush mango from central/west Africa, implications from RAPD analysis. Molecular Ecology. 9 :831-841.