Phenotypic evolution of agricultural crops

Food crops are a vital source of nutrition for humans and domestic animals, with an estimated 4 billion metric tons food produced per year. Crops do not only provide yields, but their traits also play significant role in regulating the ecosystem processes croplands, affecting local biotas, water balance, nutrient carbon cycling. Domestication has led to changes crop traits, making it important understand recent evolution how they differ from wild plants. In this paper I review evidence on ecological herbaceous have evolved during after domestication. Loss seed dispersal mechanisms, increased plant organ sizes, high rates consumption by herbivores fast decomposition residues decomposer microbes soil, all independently domestication different crops. point out types which we identified common responses domestication, be because species disparate, or lack strong evidence. Those include resource acquisition leaves roots, whole-plant growth rates. Then, discuss research gaps field, including advance knowledge those that show apparently idiosyncratic Finally, emphasize importance understanding interactions other organisms environment breed deliver yield services required croplands. To end, introduce ideotype sustainable agriculture, might inspire breeding multipurpose crops, same way than ideotypes Green Revolution inspired elite varieties foster yields under conventional agriculture. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.