Crop wild relative

Under crop wild relative ( CWR) is understood to wild relatives of cultivated varieties of plants that serve the food.

Overview

The wild relatives of today used for nutritional purposes plants set in increasingly represents an important pillar for the improvement of agricultural production and for the maintenance of a sustainable agro- ecosystem

So could CWR - due to their great adaptability - even in times of climate change and associated instability of the ecosystem help to ensure food security in the future.

The importance of CWR was already emphasized in the 20th century by Nikolai Vavilov, a Russian botanist. Since thousands of years will make use of genetic material from CWR to improve our breeding places. As traditional wild maize ( Zea mexicana ) was grown alongside maize crop production in order to increase yields, for example, in Mexico. Later genes from plant breeders have used CWR to different agro- crops such as corn, rice (Oryza sativa) to develop tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum) or legumes on. Thus it can be said that the importance of CWR is the genetic similarity to major socio-economic types. "

Conservation

CWR are essential components of both the natural and agricultural ecosystems. The conservation and sustainable use of wild relatives is thus indispensable for the improvement of agricultural production and the associated food security and the preservation of a healthy environment.

The natural distribution of many CWR is, however, increasingly at risk. They are threatened by the destruction of the natural environment ( habitat loss ) or the use of modern cultivars. Worldwide deforestation leading to a degradation or even loss of many of the important wild relatives of fruit, nut or industrial plants. Overgrazing and the resulting desertification threatened wild relatives of cereals particularly in arid or semi-arid areas.

The growing industrialization of agriculture dramatically reduced the incidence of CWR within the traditional agricultural ecosystems.

The conservation and sustainable use of CWR is an essential step to improve global food security and thus reduce poverty but also to maintain the balance of the environment.

Swell

• Crop