Term
| What is a Herbal and when were they prevalent? |
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Definition
| An illustrated listing of plants and their properties, generally medicinal during the Age of Herbals (1470-1670) or the Renaissance |
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Term
| Define: Biological Species |
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Definition
| A group of individuals that can interbreed with one another, but not with individuals of other species |
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Term
| What are the problems with using the biological species concept to categorize plants? |
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Definition
Impossible to apply in practice
Species may never interbreed
Some form fertile hybrids
Some species never breed |
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Term
| What are the problems with using morphological form in taxonomy |
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Definition
Big morphological changes may result from small genetic ones
Plant morphology can depend greatly on environmental conditions ("plastic")
Evolution constantly altering morphology |
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Term
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Definition
| Morphological based classifications, conservative characteristics emphasized |
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Term
| Why is it difficult to make a phylogenetic classification for plants? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the Engler theory regarding flowering plant evolution |
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Definition
| Earliest flowers were small, structurally simple, wind pollinated |
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Term
| Describe the Hooker theory regarding flowering plant evolution |
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Definition
| Earliest flowers had numerous parts, evolution resulted in reduction of floral parts, fusion of petals, separation of sexes |
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Term
| Describe some typical characteristics of Monocots |
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Definition
One seed leaf
Herbaceous NOT woody
Floral parts in multiples of 3
Linear, parallel veined leaves
Fibrous root system |
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Term
| Describe some typical characteristics of (Eu)dicots |
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Definition
Herbaceous or woody
Floral parts in multiples of 4/5
Broad, net-veined leaves
Taproot |
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Term
| How were hunter-gatherers amateur botanists-ecologists? |
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Definition
| Extensive knowledge of plant life cycles, habitat requirements, edible parts |
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Term
| What are the benefits to settlement? To plant cultivation? |
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Definition
| Abundant and reliable local food/water
Trade route
Maintenance of larger population
Control over local environment
Sedentary
Greater food efficiency |
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Term
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Definition
| The tilling of land for the deliberate sowing of planting of crop plants |
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Term
| When and where did the domestication of plants first occur? |
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Definition
| 5000-7000 y.a. Asia Minor, China-SE Asia, Central/South America |
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Term
| Why is the earliest evidence for agriculture in Asian Minor? |
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Definition
Need for reliable food supply in arid region
Wild precursor foods conductive to domestication native to this region
Evidence better preserved in arid regions |
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Term
| Describe the Childe theory (Neolithic Revolution) |
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Definition
| Humans and herd animals together during dry periods Disturbance of soil favored weeds, precursors of modern cereal crops |
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Term
| Describe the Sauer theory |
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Definition
| Humans developed a sedentary existence in a favorable area Less optimal areas settled as population sizes increased, necessitating domestication of plants to ensure year-round food supply |
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Term
| Describe the Anderson theory |
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Definition
Weeds important as precursors to domesticated plants
Plant Hybridization resulted in rapid genetic variation/recombination |
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Term
| By (1) there is evidence of agricultural development in Central America and South America. Agriculture developed faster at (2) than (3), which is refereed to as (4) |
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Definition
7500
Jarmo, Iraq
Tehuancan, Mexico
Incipient Cultivation |
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Term
| Describe some of the historical events for the Central and South America region |
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Definition
9-7k y.a. - Mostly hunter-gatherer
7k y.a. - 15% cultivation
3.5k y.a. - Fully agricultural
2.5k y.a. - Irrigation, turkey domesticated |
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Term
| How did humans passively select agriculturally beneficial cultivars? |
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Definition
| When harvesting seeds, plants that produce more/larger/more mature seeds will be over-represented in a harvest, leading to an increased presence in the next generation. |
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Term
| What characteristics have been favored by selection pressures? |
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Definition
Uniform seed maturation
Compression of Tillering
Loss of Seed Appendages
Loss of Germination Inhibitors
Increase in number of florets
Reduction in day-length sensitivity
Loss of Shattering
Increase of food in seed |
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Term
| In what ways can selection affect weedy species |
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Definition
| Weed germinates with crop, seeds shed before harvest, maintain population Weeds mimic crop, seeds get planted in next harvest |
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Term
| What crops were introduced to Asia from the Americas? |
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Definition
| Corn, Pineapple, Potato, Chili Pepper |
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Term
| What crops were introduced to Africa from Asia? |
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Definition
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Term
| Name some crops indigenous to Central and South America |
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Definition
| Corn, Potato, Peanuts, Chili Peppers |
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Term
| What lead to the Green Revolution? |
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Definition
Developmental advances in crop breeding<
Increases in soil fertility
Control of pests/pathogens
Farm mechanization |
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Term
| What are the four methods of genetic modification? |
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Definition
Genetic Crossing/Back-Crossing
Artificial Chromosome Doubling
Genetic Mutation
Genetic Engineering |
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Term
| Describe Genetic Crossing and Back-Crossing |
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Definition
Most important method for maintaining hybrid vigour
Labour intensive
Good cultivar can be propagated easily |
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Term
| How is polyploidy deliberately induced in plants? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The susceptibility of a species to undergo genetic mutation |
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Term
| Describe the process of Genetic Engineering |
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Definition
DNA implanted from one organism into crop plant
Usually to confer resistance to pests/pathogens/herbicides |
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Term
| Why is Genetic Diversity important? |
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Definition
| Development of new crop varieties dependent on the availability of a diverse genetic pool |
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Term
| Grasses are highly evolved flowering plants that produce a (1) fruit known as a (2), which is mostly seed, the (3) surrounding the seed is only a few cells thick, fused to the seed coat. |
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Definition
Dry indehiscent
Caryopsis
Pericarp |
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Term
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Definition
A structure that does not open upon maturation
Example: Hazlenut |
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Term
| To what region is Triticum aestivum (bread wheat) native? |
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Definition
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Term
| What does archaeological evidence from Jarmo say about cereal grains? |
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Definition
| 9000 y.a. 4 types cultivated |
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Term
| What is the closely related durum wheat used for? Why is it not used for bread flower? |
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Definition
| Pasta, semolina, couscous and bulgar It has a hard grain with a low gluten content |
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Term
| What is the major wheat pathogen? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the parts of the wheat grain caryopsis |
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Definition
Germ (embryo)
Bran (outer coating)
White flower (endosperm) |
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Term
| Describe the process of milling wheat |
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Definition
Cleaning (remove inedible parts)
Tempering (moisten grains)
Crushing (rollers)
Separating (white flour keeps longer) |
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Term
| Why is wheat the only grain that can produce reliable bread? |
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Definition
| Wheat grain contains all the gluten proteins required |
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Term
| When and where was Corn first cultivated? |
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Definition
| 7000 y.a. in Central America |
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Term
| Describe some features of Zea mays |
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Definition
Low in protein/vitamins
Contains no gluten
Widely grown in North/Central America
Highly mutable |
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Term
| A male-sterile line of corn was introduced in 1960 to help hybridize corn, what was the unexpected result? |
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Definition
| Susceptibility to corn blight was carried with the male sterility gene - 1970's corn failure |
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Term
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Definition
| Mutated derivative of wild teostinte grass, mutated a number of times to grow seeds on all directions |
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Term
| What are the two major types of Oryza sativa and how do they differ? |
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Definition
Paddy rice - constant submersion for 2-3 months
Upland rice - grown in areas with high rainfall, soil remains saturated |
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Term
| What are the major rice cultivars? |
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Definition
Indian basmati
Asian glutinous
Italian Thai jasmine |
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Term
| What are the steps to rice harvesting |
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Definition
| Threshing to separate grains from chaff Pearling/Polishing to produce white rice, outer protein rich bran and germ abraded away |
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Term
| Why did the introduction of polished white rice lead to an outbreak of disease in Asia in the early 1900's? |
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Definition
| Polished white rice contains 92% starch, and no thiamine B1 (compared to brown rice) This lack lead to beriberi, a B1 deficiency |
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Term
| Describe the major features/uses of Oats (Avena sativa) |
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Definition
Forage/fodder, rolled oats
Grown in moist temperate areas
High protein content, no gluten |
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Term
| Describe the major features/uses of Rye (Secale cereale) |
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Definition
| Arose as a cultivar of a weed of wheat/barley crops Adapted to cool climates, tolerates poor soil conditions Fodder, flour in Europe - very dense bread |
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Term
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Definition
A fungus that infects rye.
When ingested it causes convulsions, paralysis and hallucinations (St. Anthony's fire) |
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Term
| Describe the major features of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) |
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Definition
Annual grass, indigenous to Africa, grown as grain Requires warm to hot summers
Withstands drought well
Fodder in the US
Head makes natural broom |
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Term
| Describe the major features of Barley |
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Definition
Indigenous to Iraq/Ethiopia
May have been first domesticated cereal
Cool-temperate climates
Tolerates salinity
Mostly animal fodder/beer |
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Term
| How is barley used in beer production? |
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Definition
Soak/steep grains
Germinate
Concentrate material to produce liquid/dried malt |
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Term
| Describe the major features of millet |
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Definition
Cereal crops grown in hot, dry, tropical regions (India, Packistan, Africa)
Tolerate drought and poor soil
Whole grain stores easily
No gluten |
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Term
| Describe the major features of Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) |
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Definition
Indigenous to North America
Aquatic, grows in shallow lake water
Inflorescence shatters easily |
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Term
| What is the botanical definition of a fruit? |
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Definition
| The mature, ripened ovary (containing the seeds) of flowering plant species |
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Term
| How does an ovary mature into a fruit? |
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Definition
Ovary wall develops into the pericarp
In some fruits, pericarp consists of exo/epicarp (outer), mesocarp (middle) and endocarp (inner layer, where seeds are attached) |
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Term
| What are the three ways mentioned to classify fruits? |
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Definition
| Superior or inferior ovary (ovary above or below male parts)
Fruit dry/fleshy
Fruit is simple (single ovary), aggregate (fusion of multiple ovaries on 1 flower) or multiple (fusion of many individual fruits, 1+ flower) |
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Term
| What are the major characteristics of members of the rosaceae family? |
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Definition
Very large dicot family, temperate
Showy, insect pollinated
Fruits large/fleshy
Subfamilies (rosoidae, prunoidae, maloidae) |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the subfamily Rosoidae |
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Definition
| Raspberry, blackberry, strawberry Aggregate fruit - NOT a true berry Genus Rubus - receptacle stays behind Genus Fragaria - receptacle eaten |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the subfamily Pronoidae |
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Definition
| Important members from genus Prunus Plum, peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry, almond Most native to Eastern/Central Asia Drupe - fruit with "stone" Exo/mesocarp eaten, endocarp discarded |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the subfamily Maloidae |
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Definition
Apple, Pear, Quince
Produce a pome (inferior ovary)
Sweet portion arises from receptacle
Pericarp (true fruit) is inedible core |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the Tomato (Solanaceae) family |
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Definition
Large dicot family
Tobacco, potato, medicinal and poisonous drugs
Fruits are true berrys |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) |
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Definition
Native to Central America
First domesticated in Mexico by Mayans
Rejected at first in Europe (Devils Food)
Wild form is small and very pungent |
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Term
| Describe the major features of Sweet/Capscium Peppers (Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens) |
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Definition
Native to Central America
Most are hybrids
Heat from capsaicin
Hypothesized peppers were used to hide smell of unfridgerated/rancid meat |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the eggplant (Solanum melongena) |
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Definition
Originated in India
Variation in size/color
Common in European cooking |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the Pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae) family |
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Definition
Most common in (sub)tropical regions
Separate M/F flowers
Inferior ovary develops into modified berry-like fruit (pepo)
Highly mutable (giant pumpkins) |
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Term
| Describe the three genus of the Pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae) family |
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Definition
Cucurbita - pumpkin, butternut squash, gourd, native to Americas
Cucumbis - melons, cucumber, native to Africa
Citrullus - watermelon, native to SW Africa |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the Heath (Ericaceae) family |
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Definition
Dicots, woody shrubs
Dependent on mycorrhiza
Evergreen leaves, thick and waxy
Ornamental shrubs (rhondendrons, heathers, heaths) Edible true berries (blue, bilberry, lingon, cran) |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the Citrus (Rutaceae) family |
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Definition
| Tropical regions
Large, showy, fragrant, insect pollinated
Genus citrus most important
Produce modified berry hesperidium (leathery outer exo/mesocarp surrounding juice sacs or endocarp) |
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Term
| What are the major economic plants of the citrus family? |
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Definition
Lemon, lime, orange, tangerine orange, shaddock, grapefruit, kuquat, Seville, makrut lime
Produce aromatic oils used in cosmetics/food/perfumes |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the Soapberry (sapindaceae) family |
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Definition
| Longan, lychee, rambutan Akee native to west Africa Guarana |
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Term
| Describe the major features of the Mulberry (Moraceae) family |
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Definition
Multiple fruits
White/Black mulberries, Fig, Breadfruit (carb source), jack fruit (carb source) |
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Term
| What is the common name of Punica grantum , where is it native to and what part is eaten? |
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Definition
Pomegranate native to the Middle East
Multi-seeded fruit
Fruit and aril eaten |
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Term
| What is the common name of Cocos nucifera, where is it native, and what is it used for? |
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Definition
Coconut, native to Malesi
Coconut oil, dessert, clothing, building materials, drinking vessels |
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Term
| What is the common name of Vitis vinifera and where is it native to? |
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Definition
| Grape, indigineous to the Mediterranean |
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Term
| What is the common name of Actinidia deliciosa, where is it native to and where is it most commonly grown? |
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Definition
| Kiwi, native to China but now widely grown in New Zealand |
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Term
| What is the common name of Olea europea, where is it native to, what is it used for, and how is it treated for consumption? |
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Definition
Olive, native to the Mediterranean, an important source of cooking oil.
If eaten, must be treated with a caustic soda
Pickled or dried |
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Term
| What is the common name of Ananas comosus, where is it native to, what type of fruit is it, and what is it used for? |
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Definition
Pineapple, monocot native to the Americas.
Large multiple fruit.
Used for food, protein-degrading enzyme, and leaves for mats/sacks |
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Term
| What is the common name of Musa acuminata, where is it native to and how are spoilage problems resolved? |
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Definition
Banana native to eastern Asia.
Picked unripe, ripened by ethylene gas. |
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Term
| Where does the term "Banana Republic" come from? |
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Definition
| During 1890-1980, the UFC in North America controlled the economies of Central America. Producer companies where known by this term. |
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Term
| What is the common name of Phoenix dactylifera, where is it native to and what is its nutritional content? |
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Definition
Date palm native to the Near East.
Rich in vitamins, contains 75% carbs |
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Term
| What is the common name of Durio zibethinus, where is it native to, and what is it known for? |
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Definition
Durian native to western Malaysia.
Known for its complex taste (bananas/caramel/vanilla/garlic) and pungent sulphurous aroma |
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Term
| What is the common name of Persea americana, where is it native to, and what is its nutritional value? |
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Definition
Avocado, native to Central America.
High in calories, rich in Vitamin A/C, niacin, riboflavin |
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Term
| What is the common name of Mangifera indica and where is it native to? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the common name of Carica papaya and where is it native to? |
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Definition
| Papaya native to Central America |
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Term
| What is the botanical definition of a nut? |
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Definition
| Dry, one-seeded indehiscent fruit with a hard, woody pericarp |
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Term
| What is the common name of Juglans regia, where is it native to, and how is the fruit processed for food? |
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Definition
Walnut, native to SE Europe, W Asia
Ripe fruits harvested, exo/mesocarp removed |
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Term
| What is the common name of Carya illinoisensis, where is it native to and what part is eaten? |
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Definition
Pecan native to S US/Mexico.
The nut is the woody endocarp, which is eaten |
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Term
| What is the common name of Prunus dulcis, where is it native to and what part is eaten? |
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Definition
Almond, native to W Asia
Single seeded drupe, inedible mesocarp removed - endocarp sometimes left on |
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Term
| What is the common name of Corylus avellana, where is it native to and what part is eaten? |
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Definition
Hazlenut, native to Eurasia.
Woody indehiscent pericarp with a single seed (true nut) |
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Term
| What is the common name of Anacardium occidentale, where is it native to and how is it prepared for eating? |
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Definition
Cashew, NE Brazil
Roasted to rid irritat oil, swollen fruit stalks used locally for jams |
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Term
| What is the common name of Pistacia vera where is it native to and what part is eaten? |
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Definition
Pistachio, Central Asia
Fleshy drupe-like fruit with woody endocarp that splits open to reveal single seed |
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Term
| What is the common name of Bertholletia excelsa, where is it native to and how is it harvested? |
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Definition
Brazil nut, Amazonian forests.
Large woody capsule takes 15 months to mature, contains 10-25 large seeds.
Collected when they fall from the enormous tree |
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Term
| What is the common name of PMacadamia integrifolia, where is it native to and what part is eaten? |
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Definition
Macadamia nut, native to SE Australia, introduced to Hawaii in 1930 and is an important crop there.
Fruit splits at maturity to reveal thick shell (endocarp) containing single seed |
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Term
| What family does Eragrostis tef belong to? What type of plant is it? Where is it native to? |
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Definition
Poaceae Annual grass crop
Ethiopian Highlands of Africa |
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Term
| Where was Eragrostis tef first domesticated, and where is it now grown? How is it prepared for consumption? |
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Definition
Ethiopia for first two
Seed is fermented and cooked as a cereal grain |
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Term
| What is the common name of Eruca Sativa, and what family does it belong to? What kind of plant is it? Where is it native to? |
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Definition
Argula, belongs to Brassicaceae
Edible herbaceous annual shrub
Native to Mediterranean (Morocco/Turkey) |
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Term
| How is Eruca Sativa used? |
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Definition
| Leaves are eaten raw as salad, in pasta or in pizza. |
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