Abstract
Traditional crop varieties are an important source of genetic diversity for crop adaptation and modern breeding. Landraces of Asian (Oryza sativa) and African (Oryza glaberrima) rice have been well studied on the continents where they were domesticated. However, their history of cultivation in northern South America is poorly understood. Here, we reveal the rice diversity that is maintained by Maroons, descendants of enslaved Africans who fled to the interior forests of the Guianas ca. 300 years ago. We interviewed subsistence farmers who practice shifting cultivation along the Maroni and Lawa rivers that form the natural border between French Guiana and Suriname, and used ethnobotanical and morphological methods to identify around 50 varieties, of which 15 were previously undocumented. The genetic origin of these varieties was explored using the Angiosperms353 universal probe set. Despite the large distances between sites and relative inaccessibility of the area, phenotypic and genetic diversity did not display any geographic structure, which is consistent with knowledge of seed exchange among members of the same ethnolinguistic group. Although improved US cultivars were introduced in Maroon villages in the 1940s, these have not displaced the traditional landraces, which are cherished for their taste and nutritious qualities and for their importance in Maroon spiritual life. The unique agricultural and ritual practices of Maroons confirm their role as custodians of rice diversity, a role that is currently under threat from external pressures and encroaching globalization. We expect that the rice diversity uncovered in this study represents only a fraction of the total diversity in the Guianas and may constitute a large untapped resource that holds promise for future rice improvement. Further efforts to inventory and preserve these landraces will help to protect a precious cultural heritage and local food security.
Highlights
Rice is the most widely consumed staple food in the world
After weeds and debris have been removed by hand, rice is directly sown in the soil, either in small holes (‘diki olo’) dug with a hoe (‘tyap’), or cast (‘fringi’) over a tilled field (Video 1, see section 10)
Rice grains must be covered by loose soil and pressed flat to protect them from birds that feed on exposed seeds
Summary
Rice is the most widely consumed staple food in the world. Two species of domesticated rice exist: the widely cultivated Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.), domesticated in China some 10,000 years ago, and the lesser-known African rice (O. glaberrima Steud), domesticated about 3,000 years ago (Stein et al, 2018). The narrow genetic base of modern crop cultivars guarantees phenotypic uniformity and genetic stability, and makes them vulnerable to environmental fluctuations, such as climate change, reduced soil fertility, pests, and diseases (Zeven, 1998). Wild relatives of rice and traditional landraces often show adaptations towards marginal environments and pest resistance and are considered as an untapped genetic resource for breeding new cultivars resilient to future challenges (Alvarez et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2018). Ethnobotanical inventories are powerful tools in detecting these neglected genetic resources and understanding the social and cultural factors involved in generating and maintaining their diversity and distribution (Westengen et al, 2014; Ardenghi et al, 2018). We describe the rice landraces that are grown by Maroons, descendants of escaped slaves in Suriname and French Guiana and discuss their efforts and motivations to maintain this diversity
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