[South America's genetic reserves for the breeding of cultivated plants].
The genetic reserves of South America, a continent that has contributed more than 100 crop plants to the world, are by no means exhausted. On the contrary; among the native wild varieties are many potentially useful plants whose improvement through breeding is worth undertaking. Among the Solanaceae are especiallyS. muricatum, S. topiro, andS. quitoense, furthermoreCyphomandra betacea and certain species ofPhysalis, some of which are being subjected to mutation experiments, hybridization and selection in order to create new crop varieties for tropical latitudes (including the "cool tropical mountains"). Contrary to other Solanaceae like tomato and potato (not discussed in this paper) they are immune to viruses and other pathogens. The ancient Andean grains from populations ofAmaranthaceae andChenopodiaceae with their hundreds of different "landrassen" and types are in danger of losing their wealth of genes, because grain import to the Andean states has greatly decreased the extent of their cultivation. From both families, on which no genetic or breeding experiments have yet been undertaken, frost- and droughtresistant fodder plants could be developed for marginal areas. Some of the numerous South American indigenous rootcrops have already been extended to all continents, others, like the umbelliferousArracacia, are hardly known outside of their local areas of growth. Among the South AmericanLeguminosae, protein-rich green fodder plants can be developed fromPhaseolus candidus andCanavalia ensiformis, similarly from some drought-resistant perennialArachis species. Among the numerous South American species of lupines are some semi-domesticated ones, likeLupinus perennis andLupinus mutabilis, with softshell seeds and non-opening pods but with high alkaloid content. Mutation experiments have been initiated successfully at Caracas for obtaining nonpoisonous biotypes. There is hope that the protein shortage of the South American Andes region can be alleviated by "autochthonous sweet lupines", since the sweet lupine strainsL. luteus andL. albus developed byV. SENGBUSCH are not suited to the photoperiodic conditions of South America. Finally, it must seriously be pointed out that the rich potencies of the South American gene pool are quickly decreasing. In some cases the extermination of valuable gene carriers is in full course. No more time should therefore be lost in carrying out a practical, feasible program to save the gene pools of cultivated plants in South America.
Depto. de Genetica, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas.
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