Chapter1

The Role of Cultivated Plants in the Living World: 

The Role of Cultivated Plants in the Living World Crop Science 1 Fall 2004

Who are Plant Scientists?: 

Who are Plant Scientists? The first plant scientists were those who: Observed how plants grew Developed ideas about the process and how to improve it Tested those ideas Came to conclusions

What if there were no Plants?: 

What if there were no Plants? Without animals plants would survive and/or flourish Without plants all animals would die Without humans most farmed plants would become extinct

Plants as a Food Source: 

Plants as a Food Source Plants – autotrophic use sun energy to create food Animals – heterotrophic depend upon plants for their food Photosynthesis – Carbon dioxide (air) + water (roots) = carbohydrates Photosynthesis occurs in leaves and other green parts (chloroplasts)

Cultivation: 

Cultivation Definition: the growing or tending of crops Cultivation came into use about 18,000 years ago (10,000 years after modern humans) 18,000 years ago – Egypt - Cereals (Wheat, Barley) 6,000 years ago – Europe – Cereals 5,000 years ago – Mexico – Corn 3,500 years ago – South America – Potatoes 3,500 years ago - Far East - Rice

Feeding the World’s Population: 

Feeding the World’s Population Cereal Crops Roots and Tubers Oil Crops Sugar Fruit Crops Vegetable Crops

Cereal Crops: 

Cereal Crops Wheat Maize (Corn) Rice Barley Oats Sorghum Rye Millet Over ½ the world’s food supply comes from these

Roots and Tubers: 

Roots and Tubers Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Cassavas

Oil Crops: 

Oil Crops Soybeans Corn Peanuts Palm Coconut Sunflowers Olive Safflower

Sugar: 

Sugar Sugar Cane Sugar Beets

Fruit Crops: 

Fruit Crops Bananas Oranges Apples Pears Etc.

Vegetable Crops: 

Vegetable Crops Lettuce Carrots Broccoli Asparagus Etc.

Energy Transformation: 

Energy Transformation 22 pounds of grain to produce 2.2 pounds of beef Bushel of grain = protein requirement for 23 people If fed to chickens energy for 2 and protein requirement for 8 people Animals consume grain that is not edible to humans and produce protein of a higher quality and provide necessary minerals and vitamins

Past and Present: 

Past and Present 1970’s brink of famine, ecological disaster 1980’s reversal of projection Reversal was achieved by: Agricultural research available to developing countries New Cultivars – cultivated varieties (wheat, corn, rice) By 2009, food consumption in nearly ½ of the developing countries will not meet nutritional standards

Non-Food Benefits: 

Non-Food Benefits Wood and wood products Building material, fuel, landscape, paper, etc. Textiles from fiber-producing crops Clothing, rope, twine, burlap and etc. Drugs and medicines Aspirin from willow trees, codeine from poppies, tobacco

Non-Food Benefits: 

Non-Food Benefits Industrial Latex from rubber tree Pitch, turpentine and resin from pine trees Aesthetic Perfumes and spices Environmental Erosion control Oxygen

Challenges for the Future: 

Challenges for the Future New challenges more social than production Starvation Exists – social, political reasons Increased GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) Round-up Ready, Flavr Savr, Rice w/vitamin A

Lab Assignment: 

Lab Assignment Divide into Groups of 3-4 Using the internet research: World Food Supply – 1800-2010 World Population – 1800-2010 U.S. Corn Yield – 1700-2010 Average U.S. Farm Size – 1700-2010 Average World Farm Size – 1700-2010 Top 25 Commodities in U.S. 2000 Pick 3 California Counties – top 10 commodities Email clintcowden@westhillscollege.com