Heirloom Varieties Research Articles

Unpacking the Discursive Construction of Heirloom Seeds: Discourses, Contests, Connections

Unpacking the Discursive Construction of Heirloom Seeds: Discourses, Contests, Connections

Bringing Barley Back: Analysis of Heritage Varieties for Use as Germplasm Sources to Improve Resistance against the Most Devastating, Contemporary Disease in Canada, Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum)

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is currently the most devastating disease for barley (Hordeum vulgare) in Canada. Associated mycotoxins can compromise grain quality, where deoxynivalenol (DON) is considered particularly damaging due to its frequency of detection. Breeding barley with a lower DON content is difficult, due to the poor adaptation and malt quality of resistance sources. A set of European-derived heritage varieties were screened in an FHB nursery in Charlottetown, PE, with selections tested at Brandon, MB, between 2018–2022. Genetic evaluation demonstrated a distinct clustering of Canadian varieties from the heritage set. At Brandon, 72% of the heritage varieties ranked lower for DON content than did the moderately resistant Canadian check ‘AAC Goldman’, but resistance was associated with later heading and taller stature. In contrast with Canadian modern malting variety ‘AAC Synergy’, general deficiencies were observed in yield, enzyme activity, and extract, along with higher protein content. Nonetheless, several resistant varieties were identified with reasonable a heading date and yield, including ‘Chevallier Chile’, ‘Domen’, ‘Djugay’, ‘Hannchen’, ‘Heils Franken’, ‘Moravian Barley’, ‘Loosdorfer’ with ‘Golden Melon’, ‘Nutans Moskva’, and ‘Vellavia’, these being some of the most promising varieties when malting quality characteristics were also considered. These heritage resources could be used as parents in breeding to develop FHB-resistant malting barley varieties.

Phenotypic characterization of Southeastern United States open‐pollinated maize landraces

AbstractMaize (Zea mays L. subsp. mays) is the most important crop in the United States, but maize food and distillation products often rely on varieties that are not bred explicitly for these purposes. Farmers targeting niche food grain markets have expressed interest in historical open‐pollinated varieties of maize, but few such populations are widely available, and even fewer are well‐characterized. We planted field trials of 76 open‐pollinated heirloom varieties available from seed catalogs and the United States Department of Agriculture germplasm collection along with four F1 hybrid cultivars. We measured 24 traits across 3 years and three locations to characterize the selected varieties and measure their phenotypic relationships. We identified a subset of 19 traits with heritability >0.5 and pairwise correlation coefficients not exceeding 0.9 for phenotypic analysis. Our results demonstrate that many historical accessions contain substantial genetic variation that should permit improvement from within‐population selection. Variety name and origin are often not useful indicators of phenotypic relationships or potential crop value, although Hickory King varieties have maintained their identity even following global dispersion. Cluster analysis identifies nine morphologically distinct groups within the varieties tested, which are largely in agreement with previously proposed landrace groupings. Our results suggest a complex intermixing of Southern Dents with other maize types, rather than a clear distinction between Southern Dents and Derived Southern Dents, however. Genetic analysis of larger samples of US open‐pollinated populations will help better define the natural classification of maize indigenous to the United States.

Unlocking heirloom diversity: a pathway to bridging global challenges in modern apple cultivation

Reports indicate that climate changes will result in the extinction of a significant percentage of plant species even though many of these species contributed to crucial genetic traits that led to the development of domestic crops. In the past, the diversified range of plant species, varieties, and agricultural practices allowed agriculture production and local food systems to tolerate moderate climate variability. Today, industrial farming relies on very limited genetic diversity for commercial production. Narrowing the genetic base leads to higher susceptibility to environmental changes and diseases.Heirloom cultivars survived climate variations and extreme conditions but were abandoned in favor of a handful of commercial cultivars that dominate the food industry and fit the standards of the global food system. From a climate change perspective, it would be important to conserve heirloom cultivars to preserve biodiversity and make greater genetic diversity available to farming, which will lead to resilience and adaptation.

Agrotechnical Characteristics of Some Vegetable Seeds Commonly Grown in Denizli-Acıpayam

Vegetables are not only consumed fresh but also have an important place in nutrition in terms of vitamins, carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Parts of these plants such as roots, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds are used and consumed. This study was carried out in the laboratories of Bingol and Ege Universities in 2022. In the study, some physical properties (length, width, surface area, mean arithmetic and geometric diameters, and sphericity) of seeds belonging to five different vegetables (dill, lettuce, parsley, arugula and tongue grass) were investigated. Since the seeds examined in the study are "heirloom seeds", the values obtained will enable sowing operations to be carried out with minimum seed loss by making use of mechanization applications in small and narrow areas as well as breeding studies.

Polymorphism study of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivars and hybrids using ISSR-PCR method: identifying forms potentially resistant to Raspberry bushy dwarf virus

The article presents the results of DNA testing for 21 raspberry cultivars using the ISSR-PCR method to study genetic polymorphism and identify genotypes potentially resistant to the raspberry bushy dwarfvirus (RBDV). It was revealed that promising hybrids of everbearing raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), including 9-155-1, 11-165-10 and 9-163-1, exhibited significant genetic relations with RBDV-resistant cultivars. Hybrids 9-163-1 and 11-165-10, both having the hybrid 13-118-1 as one of the parent forms, were grouped with the RBDV-resistant cultivar ‘Poklon Kazakovu’. These forms showed similarities with the resistant cultivars ‘Meteor’ and ‘Atlant’, as well as the sensitive cultivars ‘Evrasia’ and ‘Podarok Kashinu’. The hybrid 9-155-1 was characterized by genetic proximity with the sensitive cultivars ‘Podarok Kashinu’ and ‘Evrasia’, as well as the resistant cultivars ‘Meteor’, ‘Atlant’, ‘Zhar-Ptitsa’, and ‘Heritage’. The Heritage variety is known to be resistant to RBDV, attributed to the Bu gene. This gene is responsible for the resistance to the virus, including the most dangerous isolate R15. The analysis of the constructed dendrites suggested the potential resistance to RBDV in the hybrid 9-155-1.

Definiteness marking in American Norwegian: a unique pattern among the Scandinavian languages

This paper examines definiteness marking in American Norwegian (AmNo), a heritage variety of Norwegian spoken in the US. The description adds another language to the much-studied variation within Scandinavian nominal phrases. It builds on established syntactic analysis of Scandinavian and investigates aspects that are (un)like Norwegian spoken in the homeland. A central finding is that the core syntax of Norwegian noun phrases is retained in AmNo, while the morphophonological spell-out is sometimes different. Indefinite determiners, for example, are obligatory in AmNo, but some speakers produce them with non-homeland-like gender agreement. One systematic change is observed: double definiteness has been partially lost. The typical AmNo modified definite phrase lacks the prenominal determiner that is obligatory for varieties in Norway. I argue that this is a syntactic change which allows the realization of D to be optional. This is a pattern not found in the other Scandinavian languages. At the same time, this innovative structure in AmNo is not like English, the dominant language of the AmNo speakers. This demonstrates heritage language change that is distinct from both the homeland language and the dominant language.

Cassava, Mandacaru, and Glue as Adhesive Agents in the Coating of Heirloom Fava Bean Seeds

The seed coating technique, while not recent, has garnered attention due to its commercial implications. This process has grown in significance and feasibility, imparting greater added value to seeds, particularly in an increasingly competitive and regulated market environment, notably within the realm of heirloom seeds. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the impacts caused by the use of adhesive agents, including mandacaru extract, polyvinyl acetate-based glue, and cassava gum, in the pelleting process of heirloom fava bean seeds with rock dust. The experiment was conducted in the Phytotechnics Laboratory, situated within the Campus of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences at the Federal University of Alagoas. In the coating process, MB-4 rock powder was employed. The analyzed parameters encompassed water content, thousand seed weight, first germination count, germination percentage, germination speed index, mean germination time, germination uncertainty, primary root length/aboveground portion, and seedling dry mass. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue and cassava gum proved to be the most efficient adhesive agents in the pelleting of fava bean seeds with rock powder.

Grafted and Nongrafted ‘Cherokee Purple’ Tomato Performance in Aquaponic and Hydroponic Greenhouse Production in Oklahoma

‘Cherokee Purple’ tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants are a highly sought-after heirloom cultivar in the United States but are low yielding and highly susceptible to soil-borne pathogens, and may benefit from being grafted. Soilless systems such as aquaponics and hydroponics help increase yield, mitigate disease, and serve as an alternative to field production. The objective of this study was to evaluate a grafting combination of ‘Cherokee Purple’ × ‘Maxifort’ and nongrafted controls in 1.85-m2 media grow beds with hydroponic and aquaponic systems using copper nose bluegill in a greenhouse. Grafting increased stem diameter, leaf count, stem height, flower count, and bud count compared with nongrafted plants. In aquaponics, grafting increased the phosphorus uptake over nongrafted plants grown in the aquaponic system. Grafting resulted in greater fresh (49.2%) and dry (40.0%) shoot biomass, and fresh (33.3%) and dry (42.8%) root biomass. Grafting also increased the uptake of copper and sulfur in the aquaponic systems. The hydroponic systems resulted in greater leaf count, soil plant analysis development, stem height, shoot biomass, and greater boron, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and manganese levels than aquaponic systems. Total fruit number and weight were greater in hydroponic systems than in aquaponic systems by 35.4% and 30.4%, respectively, but fruit splitting was a problem in both. Aquaponics resulted in greater root fresh weight than hydroponics. The nutrients zinc and copper increased with the use of aquaponic systems over hydroponic systems. This research suggests that the type of system can affect growth and nutrient uptake, and ‘Cherokee Purple’ should not be used in a soilless system because of excessive fruit splitting, leading to unmarketable fruit and low yield, unless environmental conditions can be managed during the heat of the summer.

Effects of Rootstock and Location on Open Field ‘BHN 589’ and ‘Nebraska Wedding’ Grafted Tomato Yield

Grafted tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production is popular, particularly in high tunnels, because grafted plants can mitigate soilborne disease incidence in highly infested soils and increase water and nutrient use efficiency and crop yield and quality. However, these potential benefits are not as well documented in open field production systems with less disease pressure. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of tomato grafting on fruit yield, number, and size across 2 years (2018 and 2019) and three diverse open-field production environments in Nebraska (Lincoln, North Platte, and Dwight). At each location, a scion from one of two determinant fresh market tomatoes, ‘Nebraska Wedding’ (heirloom) or ‘BHN 589’ (commercial hybrid), were grafted onto one of two rootstocks, ‘Estamino’ and ‘Maxifort,’ and the nongrafted scion cultivars were controls. In year 2, a fertilizer treatment was introduced (0 and 50 kg·ha−1 N). Ripe tomatoes were harvested weekly, sorted as marketable or cull, counted, and weighed fresh. No marketable or total yield benefits of grafting were observed in 2018 for any scion by rootstock combination across locations. Marketable yield of grafted plants was reduced by 32% in Lincoln. However, grafted ‘Nebraska Wedding’ plants (regardless of rootstock) in North Platte (with coarse-textured, lower organic matter soil) increased fruit number (but not yield) by 50% to 63%. In 2019, grafting ‘BHN 589’ to ‘Maxifort’ increased total tomato yield by 24% across all locations. The heirloom variety Nebraska Wedding did not benefit from grafting in 2019. ‘Estamino’ rootstock did not increase tomato yield, number, or size for either scion variety in either year. Nitrogen fertilizer increased yield as expected in 2019, but grafted plants did not perform better than nongrafted under reduced nitrogen fertility. Results from this study suggest that grafting is not consistently beneficial to ‘BHN 589’ and ‘Nebraska Wedding’ in open field production systems in Nebraska, particularly if there are no known soilborne disease issues.

The Choctaw Nation's Growing Hope Program.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma's Historic Preservation Department (HPD) and the Center for Indigenous Health Equity (CIIHE) are partnering to implement and evaluate food sovereignty interventions to better understand the potential impact of such programs on individual and community health. The HPD's Growing Hope Program is a food sovereignty initiative that aims to restore traditional Choctaw gardens, which were once a physical, social, and cultural center of Choctaw life. The program combines heirloom seeds and the stories of their origins, gardening education and technical assistance, cooking classes, and a Choctaw youth internship program to support intergenerational knowledge and the restoration of culture and food security. Since its inception the program has provided Choctaw families with ancestral Choctaw cultivar seeds and provided the technical assistance to support the growing of sustainable, healthy, traditional Choctaw foods.

Phytochemical characterisation and aromatic potential for brewing of wild hops (Humulus lupulus L.) from Northern France: Towards a lead for local hop varieties

In the current context of developing aromatic beers, our study aims at deciphering the chemical characterisation of cones from 39 wild hop genotypes collected in the North of France and replanted in an experimental hop farm, as well as 10 commercial and 3 heirloom varieties, using HS-SPME/GC–MS for the volatile compounds, UHPLC-UV for phenolic compound quantification, and UHPLC-IMS-HRMS for untargeted metabolomics. These analyses revealed a strong opposition between wild accessions and reference varieties, and an original chemical composition of some genotypes. 27 beers were produced with the same recipe, analysed by SBSE-GC–MS and evaluated by panellists. The unique difference relates to the hops to be assessed in order to determine their sensory profile. The different datasets were compared by OPLS-DA analysis in order to identify chemical markers which may influence the hop aromatic potential. Our results highlight the aromatic potential of some wild accessions, close to the commercial variety Cascade.

Simplification or Complexification: Auxiliary Selection and Anti-agreement Effect in Brazilian Venetan

In this paper we discuss a change in the auxiliary selectional pattern of Brazilian Venetan, a heritage Italo-Romance variety spoken in southern Brazil. Venetan varieties display a default form of the past participle in constructions with postverbal subjects and a fully agreeing form in constructions with preverbal subjects: this is true both for the homeland varieties of the language, spoken in northern Italy, as well as for the heritage variety under analysis in this paper, spoken in southern Brazil. A crucial difference emerges in unaccusative constructions: while Italian Venetan uses the same form of the auxiliary BE in presence of preverbal and postverbal subjects, Brazilian Venetan uses a specialized form of the auxiliary in the constructions with default agreement on the past participle, when postverbal subjects are present. We argue that the specialized auxiliary form emerges as a necessary resumption in the case of lack of agreement. The heritage variety becomes, therefore, morphosyntactically more complex than the non-heritage counterpart.

Using of Somatic Embryogenesis for Improving Bolting-resistant New Local Cultivars of Heirloom Carrot Cultivars (Daucus carota) Under Egyptian Conditions

Foreign carrot varieties with desirable morphological traits for the local and global markets must bloom in low temperatures for a long period of time in Egypt, but these climatic conditions are not available for flowering and seed production for these varieties, so it is common to import carrot seeds from abroad. On the other hand, Local cultivars bloom earlier when planted later than the advised date. Due to the heat, it cannot be grown throughout the summer. Pushing the somatic cells to divide and create a new polarity is necessary for the induction of tissues in the lab and the creation of somatic embryos. It was shown that several auxins play a crucial role in the development of these embryos, particularly 2, 4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of five procedures in a tissue culture laboratory using two concentrations of 2, 4-D at a concentration of 2.5 and 5 mg/l for indirect somatic embryos induction from sexual embryos produced from culturing carrot (Daucus carota) seeds of Carrot cv. Kuroda (an heirloom variety). The results confirmed by scanning electron microscopy showed that it is crucial to compare the various processes used to create somatic Embryogenesis to assess their effectiveness. The four stages of somatic embryos, globular, heart, torpedo, and cotyledon form, were observed on the formed callus. The highest amounts of callus fresh weight, the number of globular-shaped stage embryos, the number of heart-shaped stage embryos, the number of torpedo-shaped stage embryos, the number of cotyledon-shaped stage embryos, and the number of seedlings had been recorded in the media supplemented with 2, 4-D at a concentration of 5 mg. This study was able to produce somatic embryos of the foreign carrot cv. Kuroda, Plants obtained from somatic embryos are included in selection programs to produce varieties resistant to early flowering under Egyptian conditions. These results constitute a step in the way in the field of improving bolting-resistant new local cultivars of heirloom carrot cultivars (Daucus carota) under Egyptian conditions.

Using Oxygen Bioavailability and Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques for Regeneration of Old Seeds of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The deterioration of the viability of seeds of old varieties (heirloom varieties) by exposure to long storage periods is one of the main problems facing plant breeding programmes; Thus, oxygen bioavailability and somatic embryogenesis techniques can overcome this problem to some extent. The goals of this study were to: 1) define the optimal oxygen bioavailability concentration for increasing the germination rates of old and waterlogged seeds; 2) define the relationship between the concentration of bioavailable oxygen in the liquid ingested by the germinating seed and seed vigor; and 3) use somatic embryogenesis techniques as a method for recovering plant germplasm from old or improperly stored seeds for use in plant breeding programs. This study was conducted in the tissue culture laboratory of the Potato and Vegetatively Propagated Vegetables Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt. This research was conducted to regenerate perennial seeds (8 years) of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) variety Giza 6 (local variety) and compared with 1 year old seeds as control treatment of the same cultivar. This study established that prolonged hypoxia throughout a protracted period of storage can inhibit germination. Hypoxia during the impregnation and germination of bean seeds can be overcome by supplying the seeds with hydrogen peroxide (20 mM) throughout the germination process. Catalase enzyme (10.5 units/mL) is needed to convert hydrogen peroxide into oxygen. Also, to release oxygen from hydrogen peroxide, other catalytic agents, such as transition metal ions like Fe+2, Cu+2, and Mn+2, can be used at the following concentrations: 0.001M, 0.001M, and 0.0001M, respectively. A protective layer of CaSO4 (0.5 mM) was applied since aged seeds have very fragile biological membranes. The test of tetrazolium gave results for some seeds that it non-viable or some parts of the seed are damaged or defective; However, 2,4-D at a concentration of 5 mg/l + supplements (0.1 µM GA3/L + 2 mg kintien/L + 1.0 mM glutamine) was able to produce somatic embryos of the old seeds tissues for common bean cv. Giza 6 (a local variety). The study of the morphology and induction of somatic embryogenesis was done used scanning electron microscopy. In its early phases, the callus appeared as a scattering of elongated cells. And after being transferred to the DCR medium, the cells became tightly packed together, and globular-shaped embryos began to emerge between the tightly packed together cells.

Heritage grammars as checkpoints in acquisition: A Dependent Case Theoretic account

This paper investigates split ergativity in Turkish-dominant heritage speakers of Kurmanji. We show that the Dependent Case Theory (Marantz 1991; Baker 2015) accounts for the variation in case patterns across the baseline and heritage varieties. We develop a model of checkpoint-based acquisition that allows the emergence of the heritage patterns in Kurmanji as natural outcomes of acquisition paths where upward and downward dependent case rules are learnt independently. This sheds light into the shift from split ergativity towards accusativity across Kurmanji dialects including the heritage variety.

Genetic diversity and distinctiveness of Chilean Limachino tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) reveal an in situ conservation during the 20th century

Landraces constitute a valuable genetic pool of increased diversity that can be exploited for agriculture sustainability, food security, food quality, and future yield increments. It also contributes to understanding a species’ origin, domestication, population dynamics, and diversity. Chilean tomato germplasm characterization and documentation are scarce. To elucidate its potential and distinctiveness, we assessed the genetic variability between and within accessions of tomato landraces grown in Chile between 1938 and 2016, determining the relationships between them and with some European and US heirloom varieties. For this purpose, the tomato plants were characterized using 72 descriptors for vegetative and reproductive morphology. In addition, molecular diversity and the determination of genetic patterns between tomato accessions were made using highly informative SSR markers. Our results indicate that the genetic structure among evaluated accessions is associated with differences between the Chilean landraces grown to 1938 and cultivars grown in Europe and USA. The Chilean cluster presented a high variability. The Limachino tomato landrace is close to Marmande but distinguishable on phenotype and the molecular basis for its private alleles, being grown in the territory of Limache before 1960 until the present day. Accessions of pink beefsteak tomato grown in Chile to 2015 are distant to the rest of the tomato accessions on morphotype and close in SSR genotype to the materials grown in Chile in 1938, supporting the hypothesis of a pre-green revolution tomato diversification in Chilean territory. Chilean tomato populations may impact breeding programs due to higher variability in yield components. Our results are consistent with other researchers that have proposed Mesoamerica and the Andes Region as tomatoes’ primary center of diversity.

Combining historical agricultural and climate datasets sheds new light on early 20th century barley performance

AbstractBarley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) is cultivated globally across a wide range of environments, both in highly productive agricultural systems and in subsistence agriculture and provides valuable feedstock for the animal feed and malting industries. However, as the climate changes there is an urgent need to identify adapted barley varieties that will consistently yield highly under increased environmental stresses. Our ability to predict future local climates is only as good as the skill of the climate model, however we can look back over 100 years with much greater certainty. Historical weather datasets are an excellent resource for identifying causes of historical yield variability. In this research we combined recently digitised historical weather data from the early 20th century with published Irish spring barley trials data for two heritage varieties: Archer and Goldthorpe, following an analysis first published by Student in 1923. Using linear mixed models, we show that interannual variation in observed spring barley yields can be partially explained by recorded weather variability, in particular July maximum temperature and rainfall, and August maximum temperature. We find that while Archer largely yields more highly, Goldthorpe is more stable under wetter growing conditions, highlighting the importance of considering growing climate in variety selection. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the benefits of access to historical trials and climatic data and the importance of incorporating climate data in modern day breeding programmes to improve climate resilience of future varieties.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Identified on Okra in South Carolina, United States

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt on okra, was recovered in August 2020 on a commercial farm in South Carolina from cultivar Clemson Spineless, an heirloom cultivar still widely grown throughout the southeastern United States. An isolate recovered from discolored vascular tissue in the stem of a diseased plant was identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum based on sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha and beta-tubulin genes. Two inoculation techniques were compared, injecting microconidia into stems and drenching microconidia around the base of plants. Drenching was a significantly more effective inoculation technique than stem injection ( P < 0.05), with 77% and 40% of inoculated plants showing vascular discoloration and 73% and 45% of inoculated plants yielding colonies of F. oxysporum when pieces of vascular tissue were cultured on Komada's medium, respectively. This study provides the first confirmation of the presence of F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on okra in South Carolina.

Piecing together the history of change

This historical study of the tense morphology of moribund North American heritage Norwegian (AmNo) provides new diachronic insight into the language change of this variety. Change has been found in present-day (post-2010) AmNo tense morphology. Previous work argues that the observed changes have arisen with the present generation of speakers. However, this has not been proven with a systematic study of early AmNo data. AmNo presents a unique opportunity to explore the diachrony of old (moribund) heritage varieties since historical data have recently become available in the Corpus of American Nordic Speech (CANS). The present work uses such data from CANS, specifically a subcorpus of selected speakers from Coon Valley and Westby (WI) from 1942, which is supplemented by targeted searches in both a subcorpus of all speakers of CANS recorded in 1942 and a subcorpus of all speakers recorded from 1987 to 1992. The study found no evidence of change in the older stages of AmNo. This lack of evidence for change supports the claim that the change in the present-day tense morphology of AmNo has arisen with the present generation of speakers. A probable cause for the lack of change in early AmNo is that the AmNo language communities, to a large degree, functioned in Norwegian up until the 1940s. Thus, Norwegian was available to speakers to a much higher degree than it has been for the present generation. This study provides novel insight into language change in moribund heritage varieties, but it also argues that the study of further grammatical variables and heritage varieties is needed to increase our understanding of the language and grammar of the last multilingual speakers of moribund varieties.